Foundation Welcomes
37th Class
We're thrilled to introduce our 2025 Skadden Fellows. Hailing from 18 law schools across the country, these 28 individuals will begin their public interest careers by addressing a broad range of civil legal issues affecting people living in poverty throughout the United States.
2025
New York Legal Assistance Group, New York, NY
Shannon Lee
Tackle source of income discrimination via direct representation and impact litigation against large landlords and brokers that deny low-income New Yorkers housing by unlawfully refusing to accept housing vouchers.
Housing vouchers can be a lifeline for low-income families, but landlords and brokerage firms often do not accept renters with vouchers due to bias and stereotypes about voucher recipients. My project seeks to combat source of income discrimination in New York City by forcing landlords and brokers to accept tenants that use government-issued housing vouchers.
2025
Legal Aid Justice Center, Falls Church, VA
Madeline Sachs
Advocate to advance humane immigration policy by addressing the consequences of criminal convictions in individual immigration cases through a combination of direct representation in detained removal proceedings, strategic appellate representation, community-led policy advocacy focused on expanding options for post-conviction relief and community education and outreach.
Noncitizens who come into contact with the U.S. criminal legal system are tried twice: first, in criminal court where they face sentencing, and second, in immigration court where they face deportation. Having witnessed the harms perpetuated at the intersection of these two systems in my work before and during law school, I am honored to have the opportunity to work with immigrant Virginians to help combat this unjust system of double punishment.
2025
ACLU of Missouri, St. Louis, MO
Jamie Sgarro
Enforce, strengthen and expand existing state and federal legal protections for low-income transgender Missourians using strategic impact litigation, legislative advocacy and community education.
Despite emerging as a national leader in anti-trans policy and rhetoric, the state of Missouri has lacked a lawyer dedicated to protecting the rights of transgender Missourians through impact litigation. As a trans man, it is an honor to use my law degree to help fill this critical gap, allowing more trans people to live freely and more trans kids to simply be kids.
2025
Equip for Equality, Chicago, IL
René J. Valenzuela
Partner with Chicago and Illinois-based community organizations to provide critical special education legal representation, training and outreach to immigrant families of children with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on representing undocumented and newcomer immigrant families.
For me, representing immigrant families and youth means giving back to my community. My project focuses on recognizing the learning potential of all immigrant youth with disabilities and ensuring they can develop a sense of belonging in schools.