Meet the 2023 Summer Fellows

The 10-week DEI Summer Fellowship Program aims to ensure that law students from all backgrounds can gain meaningful experience in public interest law, while also gaining practical experience in developing legal research and writing skills and expanding professional networks. The Summer Fellows will also attend programming at the BBA throughout the summer, and are paired with a mentor from the BBA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Section. The paid internships are made possible through the generosity of law firm sponsors, as well as proceeds from the BBA’s Beacon Awards event.   

Meet the 2023 Fellows:

Grant Ford, Boston College Law School – Massachusetts Department of Revenue

A Merit Scholarship honoree and member of the Black Law Students Association, Grant is an aspiring litigator who has previously worked as a paralegal with Northeast Legal Aid and as a legislative liaison in the Michigan Department of Attorney General. Before attending law school, Grant earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy at Michigan State University.

Karl Lackner, Boston University School of Law – Massachusetts Port Authority

Fascinated by the legal institutions that serve as the economic and social backbones of society, Karl enrolled in law school after completing his BA in Government and Music at Colby College. At MassPort, Karl hopes to help build community trust in the agencies that govern our community.

Nneka Nnaji, New England Law | Boston – Committee for Public Counsel Services

Nneka is a graduate of Sam Houston State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a minor in Legal Studies. There, she was named a Muse Scholar, Merriott J. Terry Scholar, and Criminal Justice Ambassador Scholar. Her interest in public interest and advocacy stems from witnessing injustice toward marginalized groups from a young age, igniting a passion for helping those affected by the justice system. Prior to law school, Nneka worked as a Business Immigration Analyst at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP.

Neelam Karamchandani, Boston University School of Law – Department of Children & Families

A graduate of Florida State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics, Neelam has a keen interest in child and family advocacy, stemming from her own childhood experiences. At Boston University School of Law, Neelam is a member of the Business Law Society and International Law Society, as well as the Middle Eastern and South Asian Law Students Association. She currently works as a preschool English teacher at the Boston Rainbow Bridge Learning Center.

David Chairez, Boston University School of Law – Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination

David, a graduate of Saint Anselm College–where he served as President of the Multicultural Student Coalition—has an interest in learning how to use the law to better the lives of others, which he hopes to further during his time with MCAD. David has previously worked in the Office of former California Assemblyman Ian Calderon, as well as with the Kamala Harris 2020 Presidential campaign as an Organizing Fellow.

Annabella Nguyen, Suffolk University Law School – Department of Environmental Protection

Annabella earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of South Florida and intends to practice environmental law in the public sector to advocate for marginalized communities facing the effects of pollution and climate change. At Suffolk University Law School, she is a member of the Women of Color Law Student Association and Environmental Law Society.

Esther Teresinski, Suffolk University Law School – U.S. Bankruptcy Court, D. Mass 

Esther earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Marquette University before enrolling in Suffolk University’s Accelerated JD/MBA program, where she is pursuing a career and course of study in transactional law, particularly focused on commercial law. She has previously worked as a legal assistant at Dobberstein Law Firm in Brookfield, WI, as well as a student volunteer intern with the Milwaukee Justice Center, where she worked with low-income families navigating family court process and procedures.

Chih-Han (Vivian) Yu, Boston College Law School – Office of the Inspector General

Chih-Han graduated with a Bachelor of Law from National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan, after which she worked with KPMG Taiwan providing tax consulting services to global private funs in M&A processes as well as with the Taiwan Innocence Project and Beacon International Attorneys at Law as a paralegal. She has a strong interest in government and public interest legal practice, and currently serves as a member of the Business Law Society.

Angelina Lin, Boston University School of Law – City of Boston Office of Corporation Counsel

Angelina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Law, Societies, and Justice from the University of Washington and has previously worked as an intern with the Legal Aid Service of Broward County, which helps immigrants who are victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes retain residency in the US. At Boston University, she is a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, the Women’s Law Association, and the Women of Color Collaborative.

Darren Clark, Suffolk University Law School – Attorney General’s Office

A graduate of Louisiana College (currently Louisiana Baptist University) with a Bachelor of Art in history, Darren first became interested in working within the criminal justice system after the Trayvon Martin verdict. He has worked as an intern in the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office in the Major Felonies Unit, and has previously volunteered on several Presidential campaigns, including Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and the Biden-Harris campaign in 2020. Darren looks forward to working with Attorney General Andrea Campbell this summer.

Yasmine Ghoneim, New England Law | Boston – Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office

Yasmine is a graduate of Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, where she majored in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Legal Studies. She’s worked as a family-based immigration intern with The Fogle Law Firm in Atlanta, as well as with the Fulton County Office of the Solicitor General as a Victim-Witness Assistance Program intern. As a Summer Fellow, she hopes to make a difference in criminal justice reform through a holistic and individualized lens.