FAIR ANNOUNCES 2025 EMPLOYEE JUSTICE SUMMER CLERKSHIP AWARDS
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2025
FAIR ANNOUNCES 2025 EMPLOYEE JUSTICE FELLOWS
[LOS ANGELES] – The Foundation for Advocacy, Inclusion and Resources (FAIR) is delighted to announce the selection of awardees for the 2025 Employee Justice Fellowships in collaboration with the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA). The program aims to encourage and support law students from diverse backgrounds who aspire to become employee advocates in their future legal careers.
About the Employee Justice Fellowships: The Employee Justice Fellowships are a prestigious 10-week fellowship program for law students who have demonstrated interest in employment law and social justice issues. Candidates participate in an initial interview conducted by members of CELA's Diversity Outreach Committee, and once hired by CELA member law firms, are eligible to receive fellowship funding from FAIR in addition to the salary from their hiring firm. This year, 10 fellowships of $6,400 each have been awarded.
The Employee Justice Fellowship program seeks to increase diversity among those practicing employment and labor law on behalf of workers. The program recognizes diversity in various aspects, such as race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, veteran status, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, language, geography, and overcoming personal hardship.
The 2025 FAIR Employee Justice Fellows are:
Luke Banda (Loyola Law School), hired by Miracle Mile Law Group, LLP
Elise Barnathan (UC Law SF), hired by Matern Law Group
Sahna Das (USC Gould School of Law), hired by Avloni Law
Yaseen Hashmi (Georgetown Law), hired by Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai, LLP
Salvador Herrera Jr. (UCLA Law), hired by Hennig Kramer Ruiz & Singh, LLP
Clover Li (UCLA Law), hired by Toni Jaramilla, A Professional Law Corporation
Stella Linardi (UCLA Law), hired by Mozaffari Law
Olivia Mikhael (Western State College of Law), hired by Ortiz Law Office, Inc.
Christina Ochoa (Berkeley Law), hired by Bryan Schwartz Law, P.C.
Grace Kelly Perez (UC Law SF), hired by Avloni Law
The Employee Justice Fellowship recipients expressed that this additional funding from FAIR will help them pursue careers representing workers. “To have been considered, let alone be selected for the award is unimaginable. Words cannot express my gratitude, pride and excitement to have chosen,” said Clover Li. Christina Ochoa said, “I'm honored to have been selected as a FAIR Employee Justice Fellow so I can keep fighting for workers' rights during my summer clerkship!” “It is an honor to be selected for this privilege. I have great respect for the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) and the vital work they do to protect and expand the legal rights of all workers in California. Fair treatment in the workplace is not a privilege; it is a right,” said Olivia Mikhael. “Employees spend the majority of their week at work, often striving to earn a living. Therefore, they deserve not only to make a decent living but to do so in a supportive and respectful environment.” Yaseen Hashmi said, “I am thrilled to receive FAIR's Employee Justice Fellowship! FAIR's support will enable me to pursue client-centered advocacy as a form of solidarity. I am so grateful, and look forward to making the most of this opportunity.”
FAIR President Christina Cheung said, “The Employee Justice Fellowship program is critical to giving law students opportunities to build their careers and legal skills as they establish their careers fighting for worker rights. . FAIR is excited to support this year's Fellows as they begin their journeys toward becoming the next generation of workers' rights champions."
About FAIR: The Foundation for Advocacy, Inclusion and Resources (FAIR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting diversity, advocating for workers' rights, and supporting aspiring lawyers from diverse backgrounds.
About CELA: CELA is a prominent statewide organization of over 1,200 attorneys devoted to advocating for the rights of California workers. Committed to promoting diversity in the legal profession, CELA members focus on representing employees in cases of employment discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, unpaid wages, retaliation and whistleblowing.
For media inquiries, reach out to contact@fair-foundation.org
