June 12, 2019

Luis Virgen Awarded Prestigious ABA Fellowship

Congratulations to rising 3L Luis Virgen! He was awarded a 2019 John J. Curtin, Jr. Fellowship by the ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty. 

The John J. Curtin, Jr. Justice Fund was created to honor former ABA President John J. "Jack" Curtin Jr. and his long-standing dedication to social justice and civil rights issues. The fund provides stipends for law students working to help homeless and indigent people. Students selected for the John J. Curtin, Jr. Fellowship receive hands-on experience in public interest law while providing much-needed legal assistance to organizations serving the under-represented. 

Luis's application was exceptional. 

Luis was one of three students selected for this honor from a competitive pool of applicants across the country. His application impressed the Selection Committee with his demonstrated commitment to public interest work.  In the words of Mr. Kevin Curtin of the Selection Committee, Luis's application was "exceptional." 

Luis participated in the inaugural class of Southwestern's Removal Defense Clinic, helping to represent low-income immigrants in removal proceedings under the supervision of Professors Vázquez and Khommarath. This summer, as a John J.Curtin, Jr. Fellow, Luis will be working with the Public Counsel's Homelessness Prevention Law Project (HPLP), assisting individuals at high risk of becoming chronically homeless. 

He says, "I am grateful and excited to work at the Public Counsel this summer. I chose to apply to the Homelessness Prevention Law Project (HPLP) at Public Counsel to help clients in need of public assistance and legal services.  All of these opportunities will shape my development as a legal advocate and will allow me to give back."

"I am grateful for having the privilege of being a student at Southwestern and for all the support and opportunities I have received here. While our nation's legal system may seem daunting and adversarial to the communities I belong to, I am learning how to navigate the system and how to serve as an agent for positive social change."

- Luis Virgen, Rising 3L

Learn more about the ABA Commission on Homelessness & Poverty and the John J. Curtin, Jr. Fellowship.