Elliott Lund
by Elliott Lund
The Nebraska Public Interest Law Summer Fellowship program (NPILF) provides stipends to University of Nebraska College of Law students who secure unpaid public interest positions for the summer.
3L Elliott Lund, a 2024 NPILF recipient, worked with Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (formerly Immigrant Legal Center + Refugee Empowerment Center) in Lincoln, NE. Elliott shared more about his experience below.
Can you describe the work or mission of your host organization?
The Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advanacement (CIRA) is focused on empowering immigrants and refugees by providing comprehensive and innovative services. It provides a multitude of services including legal services, refugee resettlement, social work, education, and advocacy.
What were your main responsibilities? How did you spend your time?
In my time as a NPILF Fellow with CIRA, I worked primarily under the U/T/VAWA team. This means that I would spend my time assisting immigrants who have been victims of crimes, trafficking, and domestic violence. However, CIRA is great about letting their clerks explore all areas of law and I have been able to work on matters involving asylum, special immigrant juveniles, and removal/crimmigration. Specifically, I have written research memoranda, various motions, and filed applications for relief. I was also able to attend meetings with clients in various locations including Grand Island, Lexington, and even the Omaha Correctional Center.
What drew you to this type of work and how did you find/secure this particular opportunity?
I first got interested in immigration work due to growing up in Fremont, NE, a city with a large immigrant community. Since coming to law school, I worked in immigration last summer and took Immigration Law. This has only strengthened my desire to work in this area. I found CIRA during my first year of law school, and knew I wanted to work with them because they handle some removal defense. I reached out to them to ask about volunteer opportunities last year and volunteered with them throughout my second year. When the summer came up, I suggested NPILF to allow me to stay on full-time throughout the summer.
What did you most enjoy about the experience?
What I enjoyed most was the variety of experiences that CIRA gave me; I was able to work with multiple attorneys on different teams. The organization wants their clerks to get the most out of their experience, prioritizing their interest areas. Because I voiced at the beginning of summer that I had a special interest in removal defense and crimmigration, the attorneys at the organization made sure to find two relevant cases that I was able to assist on. Working on those cases was an invaluable experience that would be hard to find elsewhere.
What was the biggest challenge you faced as a summer fellow?
As with many public interest jobs, the most challenging part is likely the emotional toll. In these jobs, we often work with people that have had terrible experiences. That is why it is important to learn how to decompress after hearing these stories. But CIRA is fully aware of the cases they deal with and is active in making the work a good experience.
How has your summer experience impacted you or your view of public interest work/the legal system?
Working with CIRA has strengthened my resolve to work in public interest. Meeting so many wonderful clients has really shown me the impact that a dedicated and compassionate public interest attorney can have on a person. Regarding immigration, I have gotten a deeper understanding of the benefits and flaws of the system, particularly in our region. Nebraska has the Immigration Court with the highest asylum denial rate and only 20% of detained immigrants are represented in removal proceedings. This experience has reaffirmed my passion to work in immigration law.
Do you have a favorite anecdote or project from your summer work?
I have multiple experiences I will remember from this summer, but one simple phrase stands out: “súper bien.” This was the first thing a client said to me when I asked how he was. This caught me off guard because I had spent the last two weeks going through his asylum file, so I knew all the terrible things he had experienced. Abused as a child, targeted by gangs in every country he lived in, and continuing to be victimized after coming to the U.S. His experiences could have caused anyone to give up hope, but he was one of the most positive people I have interacted with. This interaction was small but showed me the resilience that people can have, and the pain that can lie behind positivity. The meeting also taught me more about the role of a public interest attorney. I was lucky to work with Jodi Garrelts, the most empathetic, client-centered attorney I have ever met. During this meeting, even after the client revealed more trauma, she was able to lighten the mood and put a smile on his face. She showed me the importance of our role as a legal advocate to give compassionate support to our clients.
Would you recommend this placement to others?
I would highly recommend this placement to others. As previously mentioned, there are many different areas to work in and the staff will do what they can to accommodate your interests. You can also meet with a diverse group of clients, from Honduras to Sudan. And, above all, the attorneys are incredibly welcoming and supportive of clerks, making it a great placement for law students.
What would you say to someone who was considering donating to the NPILF fund?
Without NPILF I would not have been able to work at CIRA this summer given many non-profits do not have the ability to pay for full time clerks. The fund meant that I was able to work at my dream internship, without having to worry about money.
What do you hope to do with your law degree?
I have always had an interest in both criminal law and immigration law. My hope is that I can combine the two areas of law and work as a crimmigration attorney by representing immigrants in removal proceedings.
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