PILI is excited to welcome Gabriel Lara to our Board of Directors as the 2020 Graduate Fellow Alumni Representative. Each year, PILI appoints one Intern and one Fellow from the most recent class to serve on the board for a two-year term. Gabriel Lara is a first-year associate at Chapman and Cutler and was a 2020 Fellow at Ascend Justice.
What have you been up to since your PILI Fellowship concluded?
After my PILI Fellowship concluded in the Fall of 2020, I continued volunteering with Ascend Justice until December 2020. Shortly after, in January 2021, I began working for my firm.
What was your favorite thing about being a PILI Fellow?
My favorite thing about being a PILI Fellow was the ability to interact with incredibly dedicated individuals providing life-saving services. As the PILI Fellow at Ascend Justice, I had the opportunity to work with, and learn from, individuals across the agency that spent day after day supporting their clients as they navigated complex, and at-times, emotionally taxing proceedings. Throughout the Fellowship, I supported both the Emergency Order of Protection (EOP) Division as well as the Extended Services Division where I worked on a range of tasks, from monitoring the EOP hotline to preparing VAWA/UVISA applications.
How has your commitment to service played a role in your life and career?
My commitment to services is deeply rooted in my life and career. I have often sought out opportunities to give back to vulnerable communities through nonprofit work. My passion for nonprofit work stretches back to my years as an undergraduate in the Boston area, and continued throughout law school. Now, as an attorney, I look forward to continuing this important work through pro bono opportunities.