Project Vote welcomes five talented law students to the 2010 law clerk program. During the summer, these students will have the opportunity to conduct legal research, draft research memoranda, legal pleadings, and public education materials, as well as contribute to Project Vote’s Voting Matters blog.
Lauren Forbes is a law student at American University Washington College of Law. In addition to her extensive history in interning at the offices of legislators on both state and federal levels, Ms. Forbes served as a legal intern for the National Economic Council at the White House.
“While each citizen theoretically enjoys this right to vote equally, in reality, there are many obstacles to fully enfranchising the electorate… I am most interested in identifying and dismantling the barriers to voting, particularly for those who have been historically marginalized.”
Michelle Rupp is a law student at Georgetown University Law Center where she is editor in chief for the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal and previously served as vice president in Georgetown’s Election Law Society. Ms. Rupp most recently served as a legal intern for the Voting Rights Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She also interned with Project Vote in fall 2009.
“Working in this field gives me the satisfaction of knowing that I am doing my civic duty, strengthening a democratic system I hold dear, and reinforcing that all citizens are valuable members of the civic community,” she said.
William Knight Scott is a law student at George Washington University. Prior to joining Project Vote, Mr. Scott served as a judicial intern for chief judge of the southern district of West Virginia, Joseph Goodwin.
“What interests me most about voting rights and election law is helping the people who don’t have a voice speak out,” said Mr. Scott. “I am excited about the opportunity to try my hand at a variety of projects, especially those with real world application.”
Elizabeth Shen is a law student at American University Washington College of Law and graduate of the University of California Berkeley, where she served as an administrative assistant for the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology. Prior to joining Project Vote, Ms. Shen interned in the Pretrial Services Division of the Superior Court of California in Alameda County and campaigned for a California senator.
“I’m hoping to get a comprehensive perspective of working in election law,” said Ms. Shen on working with Project Vote. “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with experienced practitioners and skilled attorneys who are excited about what they do.”
David Sophrin is a law student at Syracuse University College of Law where he is associate editor of The Digest, the law journal of the National Italian American Bar Association. Prior to joining Project Vote, Mr. Sophrin served as a legal intern for the Delaware House of Representatives House Majority Caucus Counsel and interned at the ACLU of Delaware.
“Despite past legislative victories expanding the right to vote, voting rights is still an area of law that requires legal action in order to ensure that that right remains available to all,” said Sophrin. “My hope is that working with Project Vote will allow me to better understand how a nonprofit organization effectively tracks relevant state and federal legislation and works to introduce and promote effective legislative possibilities to lawmakers at various levels of government.”