Detroit Mercy Law awards Voice for Justice Fellowship to two students
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law awarded Voice for Justice Fellowships to Alexis Farmer and Nachaat Salami, both rising 2L students. Detroit Mercy Law strives to teach students to be both skilled practitioners and compassionate professionals. This Fellowship upholds the long-standing tradition at Detroit Mercy Law of service to the community and provides students with the opportunity to succeed while making a difference in the community. Fellowship recipients work over the summer as interns at nonprofit organizations.
Farmer will be working at Harvard Law School’s Crimmigration Clinic, which works on cutting edge issues involving both criminal law and immigration law. She will be working on appellate and district litigation, policy advocacy, and know your rights presentations.
“I am looking forward to working at the Clinic because I want to better understand this complex area of law. I want to understand how past, nonviolent or minor criminal offenses can impact someone’s immigration status,” Farmer explained. Prior to law school, Farmer earned her Master in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and worked for the city of Detroit implementing two workforce development programs.
“I have a desire to help others and fight for social change. I am dedicated to shaping a more just world through policy ,” said Farmer.
Salami will be working at the State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) in Michigan. He will be working with SADO attorneys to address the needs of indigent appellate clients.
“I am inspired to do this work because I have a commitment to social justice and equitable representation. Seeing first-hand the disparate impact that the criminal justice system can have on marginalized communities, I am determined to contribute to initiatives aimed at rectifying these injustices and ensuring that all individuals have access to competent legal representation, as enshrined in our Constitution,” explained Salami.
Before law school, Salami worked as a substitute teacher which solidified his conviction in the transformative power of education and reinforced his belief in the importance of public service through advocacy.
“As I pursue a career in law and public service, I am committed to advocating for equitable access to representation. By empowering individuals through education and representation, we can build a more just and equitable society while working toward reducing incarceration rates,” Salami said.
To learn more, visit https://law.udmercy.edu/career-services/current-students/public-interest-fellowship.