[District of Columbia, October 5, 2023] – The DC Bar Foundation has selected ten new members for two-year terms on its Young Lawyers Network Leadership Council. Members serve as ambassadors to promote the Foundation's mission to transform the District's civil legal aid network and increase access to justice for all. In recent years, Leadership Council membership criteria have been expanded to include attorneys at DC Bar Foundation grantee organizations, as well as attorneys over the age of 40 who are in the first six years of their legal careers.
Jon Dugan is a managing associate at Sidley Austin whose pro bono work has exposed him to a significant part of the DC legal community. His cases have promoted access to justice for local residents, businesses, and immigrants.
Lauren Bizron Harriman is a distinguished practitioner-in-residence & acting director at American University Washington College of Law's Gender Justice Clinic, where she finds joy in helping her students realize the impact of advocacy and their zeal for pro bono lawyering.
Alyssa Howard is an associate at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP whose work has intersected with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center. She hopes to collaborate with attorneys around the District to expand access to justice for all.
Laurel LaMontagne is an associate at ArentFox Schiff. She has worked on several pro bono projects in the District pertaining to eviction and nonviolent offenders. She has fundraising and event planning experience with DCBF grantee partner Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
Rachel May is an associate at Eversheds Sutherland. She has always been driven to contribute to positive social change and support those needing legal assistance but lacking the financial means to secure it.
Krystal Montgomery is a supervising attorney in the Pro Bono (Family Law) Program at DCBF grantee partner, DC Children's Law Center. In addition to her legal work at CLC, Krystal is passionate about developing younger attorneys to understand the need for advocates who are self-aware, compassionate, and strong for the communities they serve.
Christian Nestor is an attorney advisor at the US Board of Veterans' Appeals. His experience working with nonprofits and passion for helping others will be an asset to the YLN LC's efforts in supporting DC's civil legal aid community.
Priscilla Nyankson is an associate at Covington & Burling, who also spent six months with DCBF grantee partner Neighborhood Legal Services Program, representing DC residents facing eviction, housing discrimination, and more. She is disheartened by the number of people who could not be served due to a lack of funds and lawyers and hopes her work with the YLN LC will help increase resources for vital legal aid organizations.
Jessica Sarkis is a trial attorney with the US Department of Justice. Before her work at the DOJ, Jessica participated in pro bono work at Jones Day with cases focusing on asylum matters, eviction, and a death penalty appeal.
Danielle Scheer is an associate at McDermott Will & Emery who has extensive experience supporting the District's public interest and legal aid communities through cases about social security disability, education, veterans benefits, and asylum matters.
"The Young Lawyers Network Leadership Council is a key part of the Foundation's leadership, with members serving on numerous board committees and as volunteer solicitors for the Call to Action Campaign," says DC Bar Foundation CEO Kirra Jarratt. "It is an honor to welcome these ten highly qualified individuals to the Leadership Council, who will undoubtedly impact the District's civil legal aid community through their dedication to expanding access to justice in our city."
In recent years, Leadership Council membership criteria have been expanded to include attorneys at DC Bar Foundation grantee organizations, as well as attorneys over the age of 40 who are in the first six years of their legal careers.
About the DC Bar Foundation: For DC residents who are financially disenfranchised, we make strategic investments to strengthen and expand our civil legal aid network, addressing critical needs and improving our community. As the District's largest funder of civil legal aid, we are a steadfast community partner committed to protecting access to justice in life's most pivotal moments.
###