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His dedication to the highest ethical standards and moral principles won him the admiration of many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the United States Congress. In the spring of 2020, in Celebration of the 55th Anniversary of this life-altering event, LSA began a national search for the first John Lewis Fellows, resulting in 6 law students from across the country committed to providing free legal assistance to individuals in underserved and underrepresented communities to ensure equal access to justice for all citizens in Alabama.
The initial goal of the proposal was to provide legal services to the Blackbelt and the Wiregrass citizens. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the myriad of legal issues surrounding the virus, along with the increasing justice gap issues across the country, we opted to use COVID-19 funding to combat these issues. The first year of fellows provided services and support throughout the entire state.
The goal of the John Lewis Legal Services Fellowship Program remains to train recent law graduates who have an interest in rural economic justice for a career in public interest lawyering to provide social, economic and legal change, while working on legal issues that improve the quality of life for low-income individuals.
In addition to training, we also provide the fellows a glimpse into the life and work of Congressman Lewis through a speaker series and tours that travel in the Congressman’s footsteps in Alabama.
As the country continues to mourn this giant of a man, we are humbled to honor his legacy and work through the LSA John Lewis Legal Services Fellowship Program.
Candace Avery comes to the fellowship with a passion for providing access to justice in her own hometown. For Avery, practicing law in Montgomery “isn’t just a career choice—it is a calling to serve the community that shaped me.” She studied criminal justice as an undergraduate and prior to law school earned an MA in Justice and Public Safety. Avery has experience as a paralegal for the State of Alabama and as a law clerk focused on civil litigation. During law school, she volunteered with Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham at their civil litigation help desk. Her choice to pursue the JLF is rooted in a desire to actively disrupt the unfair power imbalances that most affect our clients.
“What inspired me to become a John Lewis Fellow is a fundamental conviction: positive social transformation doesn’t happen by waiting out unfair systems or quietly accepting the status quo. It happens when people refuse to comply with injustice and actively disrupt it.”
Melissa Bernazzani brings a strong commitment to public service and community advocacy to the fellowship She previously served as a summer intern with Legal Services Alabama’s Dothan office and as a domestic violence court advocate with the Women’s Safety & Resource Center (WSRC) in Oregon. An Army veteran and Public Interest Fellow, Bernazzani has been recognized for her pro bono work with the Public Interest Merit and Ellen Brooks Merit awards. Her commitment to public service is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves dignity and meaningful access to justice, regardless of circumstance. She is excited to carry John Lewis’ legacy forward by using her voice, her legal education, and her commitment to service.
“I have a strong interest in public service and supporting my community. Working in the legacy of John Lewis is important to me because I strongly believe that each of us has both the power and the responsibility to make our communities and our country more just—even when doing so is difficult.”
Lateef Manigault has legal experience in high-stakes litigation, including matters involving a local school board and local Housing Authority, as well as guardianship cases. As a legal intern with Richberg Law, he gained experience navigating complex legal matters with significant impacts on individuals and communities. Manigault’s commitment to service extends beyond the legal field through involvement with a homeless ministry and mental health advocacy. As a John Lewis Legal Fellow, Manigault is driven by a desire to train and work in an environment where clients are not treated as billable hours but treated as people whose lives are affected by the legal work and advocacy attorneys engage in every day.
“Every human being deserves respect and dignity. A person’s socio-economic status does not justify exposure to discrimination, homelessness, or abuse in any form or fashion.”
Originally from Memphis, Malik Sanders joins the fellowship with the intention of “using the position to improve the lives of others.” His legal experience includes serving as a Judicial Clerk for a Montgomery Circuit Court Judge, working as a legal assistant at the Alabama Education Association, clerking for a serious injury law firm, and serving as a licensed mediator in Alabama. He has also volunteered pro bono eviction prevention services in Montgomery. Sanders is honored to work in the legacy of John Lewis and admires his willingness to stand for justice, even when doing so required personal sacrifice. He brings a combination of legal knowledge, mediation experience, and a practical approach to problem-solving.
“My experience has taught me how to listen without judgment and how to understand the real concerns behind a legal issue. I understand that many clients seeking legal aid are facing stressful and unfamiliar circumstances. I bring the patience, empathy, and professionalism necessary to help them feel heard while providing clear and dependable guidance.”
Maya Shah has focused her legal education and experience on public interest work and expanding access to justice. She interned with Legal Services Alabama during both their first and second years of law school and with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She also participated in the Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Access to Justice Program at the District Court and the Medical-Legal Partnership between UAB and Cumberland. Committed to serving her community beyond the legal field, Shah volunteers with BHAM Jumpstart as an ESL teacher and previously worked with STAIR to support children’s literacy. As a public interest fellow at Cumberland, she organized a canned food drive that collected more than 3,000 items for Firehouse Ministries, Grace Klein, and the Community Food Bank.
“I believe that everyone deserves fair and just treatment, which includes being educated and advocated for but also listened to and understood. I wanted to be a John Lewis Fellow after my first summer at LSA because I saw the incredible work that previous fellows had done and I wanted to be a part of continuing efforts to serve my community.
Liz Simpson joins the fellowship with more than four years of legal experience as a paralegal and translator at Hollis, Wright & Clay, P.C. in Birmingham. Her commitment to community service includes previous work and volunteer service with the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama (¡HICA!), where she taught digital literacy and computer skills through HICA and Tech Goes Home, and with the IRA Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Before entering the legal field, Simpson worked as a social worker with Community Action Agencies in Tennessee, Alabama, and Connecticut, helping individuals and families keep their homes and maintain essential services. Those experiences shaped their commitment to expanding access to civil legal help. Growing up in El Salvador and navigating immigration systems with their family, Simpson adds bilingual and bicultural experience to their work with a passion for making legal systems accessible and understandable for everyone, regardless of barriers.
“I am beyond excited for the opportunity to provide free legal advocacy on the civil side. Legal Services Alabama is an organization that I believe in. I am honored to have been selected as a John Lewis Fellow to continue the work of their mission: to find solutions to systemic issues caused by poverty.”
