Meet the Philadelphia Bar Foundation's Fall 2018 Interns
Each semester, a number of talented interns join our team at the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. Learn about each of our Fall 2018 interns and the projects they've been working on. Plus, hear why they care about equal access to justice!
Name: Alyssa Levy
Hometown: Plantation, Florida
Education: University of Pennsylvania, studying Finance and Legal Studies & Business Ethics
Philadelphia Bar Foundation Internship: Grants and Technology
Most interesting thing I learned while working at the Philadelphia Bar Foundation: I was fascinated to learn about the different areas that civil legal aid can fall under and really see how legal aid can change so many people's lives, especially in the Philadelphia region. Having the opportunity to experience the full process of grant-making has proven to be invaluable.
Why I care about equal access to justice: Due to the ever-present inequality that exists in society today, it is imperative that people have access to the resources they need. There are basic human rights and services that all people deserve to use, and equal access to justice helps achieve that.
Name: Madison Jones
Hometown: Springfield, New Jersey
Education: University of Pennsylvania, studying Computer Science
Philadelphia Bar Foundation Internship: Equal Justice Center
Most interesting thing I learned while working at the Philadelphia Bar Foundation: The most interesting thing I’ve learned while working at the Philadelphia Bar Foundation has been the diversity of legal aid organizations that are available to Philadelphia residents. Before my time here, I had not appreciated how many services fell under the umbrella of civil legal aid. Working on the Equal Justice Center has really shed light on the importance of making these organizations as accessible as possible because the services they provide are truly invaluable.
Why I care about equal access to justice: I believe America’s justice system should be designed to provide equal access to all people. Unfortunately, our current system unfairly overlooks the circumstances of low-income individuals and leaves countless people with few avenues to seek legal help. Equal access to justice is crucial to ensuring that the basic rights of our community’s most vulnerable members are always protected.
Name: Senih Toraman
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Education: Swarthmore College, studying Economics and French
Philadelphia Bar Foundation Internship: Marketing and Development
Most interesting thing I learned while working at the Philadelphia Bar Foundation: I was fascinated to learn how legal aid can change so many people's lives. I really enjoyed learning about our non-profit partners and the cases they work on to help people in the region. It's really inspiring to meet dedicated people who work hard to provide assistance.
Why I care about equal access to justice: I care about equal access to justice because simple legal issues can be detrimental to the most vulnerable individuals in society. Unfortunately, the lack of access to justice perpetuates intergenerational poverty and undermines people's potential to improve their socioeconomic status. Equal access to justice can help alleviate some of these inequalities.