“I am extremely grateful to be selected for the Squire Patton Boggs Racial Justice Fellowship,” said Young. “This fellowship is an honor that I do not take lightly. After my internship with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, I am committed to a public interest career advocating for those who are systemically discriminated against.”
Young, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, received her B.A. in international studies, political science, and Latin American & Iberian studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Young is a clinical intern with the Innocence Clinic. She has also served as a research assistant to Professor Tony Alfieri and as a junior editor with the Race and Social Justice Law Review. Her article titled “Protecting Restorative Justice Participants: The Implications of Implementing Restorative Justice without Proper Safeguards for Participants” has been selected for publication. Additionally, Young has served as co-chair of the Public Interest Leadership Board, vice president of the ACLU-UM, president of the Criminal Law Society, recruiting director for the American Constitution Society, and member of the Society of Bar and Gavel.
“Working with the Innocence Clinic has been my favorite experience at Miami Law,” said Young. “The clinic is one of the reasons I chose Miami law. Representing wrongfully convicted people that are subject to the inhumane conditions of Florida’s prisons is the most worthwhile experience I have had in law school. To see how the criminal legal system methodically keeps those that are innocent in cages is infuriating and drives me to do this work.”
Young also interned with the Housing Practice of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, demonstrating her strong commitment to working for indigent communities.
In 2021 in response to the heightened consciousness around systemic racism and racial injustice, the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation created and funded a Racial Justice Fellowship Program focusing on three critical areas: Black community-police relations, voting rights, and juvenile justice in minority communities.
Foundation President John Oberdorfer said, “in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, the Foundation and its Deans’ Circle decided to take a sustained action to address racial injustice. The Racial Justice Fellowship program in 2021 had a strong and positive impact, and we look forward to that continued impact from this year’s Fellows.”
Young plans to work in civil rights litigation or criminal defense after graduating from Miami Law next year.
“I am looking forward to gaining experience defending the right to vote from the onslaught of laws promoting voter suppression and discrimination,” said Young. “I cannot wait to be part of a cohort of fellows and network of professionals committed to equity and racial justice.”
Read more about the Miami Scholars Public Interest Program.
Read more about the Innocence Clinic.
