New Staff
LAS–ELC Welcomes Two Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellows
Julia Parish and Gina Gemello
The Legal Aid Society–Employment Law Center is very pleased to welcome two Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellows Julia Parish and Gina Gemello.
We are delighted that Julia and Gina have chosen to bring their talents, skills and passion for justice to the LAS–ELC in service of the growing numbers of low wage clients in urgent need of assistance.
Julia Parish is a recent graduate of U.C. Berkeley School of Law and has previously clerked at the LAS–ELC. She will work with the Gender Equity Program and specifically on its Work and Family Project to protect the employment rights of low-wage workers confronted with pregnancy discrimination and violations of California and federal family medical leave laws. Also, through Project SURVIVE, she will assist in protecting the employment rights of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors while they seek medical or legal help arising out of physical and mental abuse. In addition, she will conduct presentations and workshops for community advocates and service providers.
Gina Gemello just concluded her legal education at U.C. Hastings College of the Law. She will be the coordinator of the newly established Workers Rights Disability Law Clinic, to be housed at the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley, California. The new clinic will open its doors on September 20, 2011. Working with LAS–ELC staff attorneys, a cadre of 16 law students and a number of attorney volunteers, Gina will oversee the provision of free legal services to low income persons with disabilities who face illegal practices that affect their ability to secure or maintain employment. These include persons with mobility impairments, intellectual disabilities, hidden disabilities, chronic illness and those who are deaf and hard of hearing. Gina will also conduct trainings, know your rights programs and other community education efforts to extend and expand the awareness of statutorily mandated employment rights for disabled persons.
The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellowships program was created in 1993. Fellows work with organizations addressing a wide range of issues including economic development, immigration, civil rights, homelessness, access to healthcare, and domestic violence.