Lezak Social Justice Fellowship
Honoring a Legacy of Mentorship and Transforming Lives
Through the Lezak Social Justice Fellowship, the insight, guidance, and encouragement that Sid Lezak provided to so many of Oregon’s greatest citizens passes to a new generation of lawyers.
2025 Lezak Fellows
Amanda Lee is clerking for the Northwest Workers’ Justice Project (NWJP), which works to improve wages and working conditions and protect workplace dignity by supporting the efforts of low-wage, immigrant, and contingent workers.
Grace Elkhal is working for SOAR Immigration Legal Services. Through SOAR, Elkhal will serve as the only Arabic-speaker in the clinic, completing immigration filings and research, assisting in client interviews, and supporting clients through removal proceedings.
Brisa Franco is working with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). IRCO’s mission is to provide direct legal services to the most vulnerable community members, with a focus on Immigration Law, Disability Law, and Family Law.
Peren Tiemann is clerking for the Oregon Law Center (OLC). The OLC provides free legal help for cases involving domestic and sexual violence, public benefits, and employment law.
Brian Liu is serving the Multnomah Defenders Inc. (MCI) as a research and writing intern. MCI defends adults and juveniles in the courts of Oregon in criminal, juvenile, contempt, and appellate matters.
Parker Brocker-Knapp is serving SOAR Immigration Legal Services. SOAR provides legal representation to individuals seeking aid with immigration and refugee processes through region-specific programs like their New Americans initiative, Afghan project, Ukrainian Legal project, and Cuban-Haitian Assistance project.
Background and Program
Sid Lezak was one of the longest serving US Attorneys in the history of the United States, the father of alternative dispute resolution in Oregon, an activist, a community servant, and a mentor to many Oregonians. To learn more about Sid Lezak and to hear him tell his own story, we invite you to visit the Oregon Historical Society’s webpage and listen to the oral history recording or read the transcript.
The Lezak Social Justice Fellowship honors his legacy by granting summer stipends to law students to encourage them to serve the Oregon community, and by providing mentorship and guidance to these students. Typically, 4 to 6 students are selected as fellows each year. These students work in every area of public interest law - an experience made possible for many students solely due to the support that the program provides. In turn, fellows provide direct assistance to underserved clients and causes. After graduating, the vast majority of fellows remain in public interest law.
Meet our current and former fellows, mentors, and steering committee.
Students & Prospective Applicants
The Lezak Social Justice Fellowship opens in the Spring semester, with applicants typically selected by April. Learn more about applying for the Lezak Social Justice Fellowship.
Support the Lezak Social Justice Fellowship
Your gift to the Lezak Social Justice Fellowship makes public interest possible for our students and creates access to justice. Support the fellowship.