TRAM Themis Scholarship

I plan on using my law degree to address one major issue: violence against women and children. These issue presses on my conscience greatly and impacts many communities across the country and the globe. In my state, domestic and family violence are unfortunately common place, but by working with the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC) and a local attorney who focuses on these issues, I have been able to help women and their families navigate the process of getting out of abusive situations and find safe, healthy places to recover and raise their families. I plan on using my law degree to help expand organizations like RDVIC and improve access to resources such as these to rural areas that are heavily impacted by domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual abuse. These issues are widely spread, yet rarely talked about in the public sphere. Many women and children suffer violence at the hands of family members but lack the resources and support to adequately protect themselves. These individuals need more concerned attorneys to bring attention to their struggles and offer a lending hand. I plan on representing indigent families pro bono in protection order hearings, divorces, and when submitting parenting plans while providing them with emotional support and referring them to organizations that can assist with housing and financial security. On a larger scale, I hope to carry on the work that my mentor and RDVIC have started in my state by petitioning for the laws to have stricter punishments regarding domestic violence and for the law to provide greater safeguards to victims and their families while they are getting out of an abusive or dangerous situation. Too many lives have been lost and too many children harmed while victims are trying to protect themselves. The laws in my state fail to adequately protect victims and ensure their safety during this critical time. I wish to help victims of domestic violence with my law degree because I myself am victim of domestic violence, both as a child witness and as an adult. My experience has opened my eyes to how wide spread domestic violence is and how normalized it seems to be. Even though the majority of my community have experienced domestic violence, it is still taboo to talk to someone else to ask for help and protect yourself. This cannot continue in our society. We need greater protections and support systems for victims of domestic violence. I hope to be part of the change to make communities safer for women and children with my law degree.