From criminal justice advocacy in New York to eviction protection work in Miami, a number of HOPE Public Interest Resource Center students engaged in public service under the supervision of Miami Law alumni last summer. The law school’s strong alumni network provided valuable mentorship and opportunities for the students to enhance their legal skills and deepen their commitment to service, collaboration, and community impact.
Mentorship in action at New York County Defender Services
Third-year Miami Public Interest Scholar and HOPE Fellow Radha Patel thrived as an intern at the New York County Defender Services in New York City under the supervision of Maria Camila Rodriguez, J.D. ‘19. Rodriguez, who joined NYCDS after applying through the Equal Justice Works Career Fair, shared that she and Patel worked incredibly well together during Miami Law’s Legal Advocacy Alternative Spring Break last March, and their collaboration continued to grow throughout the summer. Under Rodriguez’s supervision, Patel handled her own cases, spoke on the record, attended legal workshops, and built strong client relationships. Patel shared how transformative it was to have a mentor like Rodriguez: “As a first-generation law student, having Maria’s guidance throughout my internship made all the difference,” she said.
Fighting for housing justice with Legal Services of Greater Miami
Second-year Miami Public Interest Scholar Olivia Dill worked in the Eviction Diversion Unit of Legal Services of Greater Miami, where she gained hands-on litigation experience defending tenants facing eviction. She credits her mentor, Alexis Vegafria, J.D. ‘23, a staff attorney in the Tenants’ Rights Unit, with teaching her not only the fundamentals of lawyering, but also the broader role of advocacy in and out of the courtroom. Vegafria, who was admitted to the Florida Bar in September 2023, describes that milestone as a “lifelong dream come true.” She now plays a vital role in LSGMI’s eviction defense efforts, supporting vulnerable renters across Miami-Dade County. Dill and Vegafria have built a strong bond grounded in shared experience and a shared mission. They plan to continue working together as project managers for upcoming HOPE–LSGMI pro bono initiatives, continuing their impactful collaboration.
Upholding maritime justice with the U.S. Coast Guard
Third-year HOPE Fellows Nicolas Vincenty and Alicia-Rosa Gonzalez spent the summer as interns with the U.S. Coast Guard JAG Corps in Miami. Their supervisor, Lt. Commander Ramirez, J.D. ’22, brings 20 years of active-duty Coast Guard service to his role as a legal officer and mentor. Under his guidance, Vincenty and Gonzalez worked on a range of issues—from disciplinary proceedings and illegal charter investigations to federal case referrals. “It was an honor to contribute to military justice operations and support maritime public safety efforts,” Vincenty said. Gonzalez Alicia added that the experience expanded her understanding of military law: “A JAG attorney is more than just a lawyer. They are also officers, courtroom advocates, and legal advisors to high-ranking officials.” Their experience connects them to a growing pipeline of School of Law alumni in Coast Guard legal leadership, including Commander McCall, J.D. ’11 and Lt. Commander Tanner Stiehl, J.D./ LL.M. '21, both of whom hold key advisory roles in the Coast Guard’s Southeastern operations.
Policy, public interest, and the law in science and technology
Second-year Miami Public Interest Scholar Camilo Daza Manga spent the summer gaining experience in technology law as a legal intern with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, which oversees federal non-military research and development from NASA to the National Weather Service. He conducted legal and policy research, drafted hearing materials, and developed a memorandum on statutory authority. Manga called working with Andrew Rubin, J.D. ’14, “a great opportunity; not only did it give me firsthand insight into how a congressional committee’s general counsel operates at the highest level, but it also allowed me to learn from a Miami Law graduate about navigating a career at the intersection of law and policy.”
Rubin, now the committee’s general counsel, credits his School of Law experience, including research with Professor Emeritus Bernard H. Oxman and an internship with the U.S. Coast Guard JAG Office, for shaping his career. “The Ocean and Coastal Law curriculum was key. It got me very comfortable working with scientists,” he said. His advice to students: “Willpower will overcome a lot of the difficulties you encounter. Sometimes you’ll have to step off your path for a while, but if you stay committed, you can return to it. Nothing is set in stone.”
Strengthening the Cane legacy of justice, service and community
These summer opportunities around the country reflect the strength of the School of Law network and its commitment to cultivating future public interest leaders. By learning directly from alumni who once stood in their shoes, students returned to campus with not only legal experience, but also the confidence and inspiration to pursue meaningful, service-driven careers.
Read more about Miami Law’s Social Justice and Public Interest area of study.
