This summer I interned at Valverde Law, PLLC, under Professor Hugo Valverde.  As a rising 3L I knew that this summer was important to confirm what type of law I wanted to practice after graduation. I have always had an interest in immigration law, and a heart for helping the immigrant community, which led me to take Professor Valverde’s immigration course last fall. I ended up learning so much about the complexities of the immigration system and knew that this was something I wanted to get hands-on experience with. I then took his practicum course which solidified my calling in immigration law and was hugely beneficial to figuring out what the calling practically looks like. During the practicum I was able to interview clients, prepare forms for applications, and actually get to send out the applications. While this was an amazing experience for me, it also greatly benefited the clients, as the firm was handling their cases pro bono.

In many ways this summer was a continuation of the cases from the practicum, and I finished off the applications of several clients that I started in the spring. I also got to work on some new applications as well! I worked on two T-visas, for survivors of labor trafficking, four U-visas, for survivors of crimes in the US, and a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) case, for an abused spouse. It was moving to talk to the clients about their experiences, and be a part of them receiving justice.

A delicate part of working with these clients was helping them draft their Declarations. These were essentially a summary of what crime happened to them, and the harm it caused them. It is in emotionally charged projects that I find I am best able to show God’s love to clients. In a particular set of cases, three legal migrant workers were extorted by their boss for money, falsely accused of theft, and threatened to have ICE called on them. The type of dehumanizing behavior described in their Declarations was saddening to read and edit, especially so since it happened in the area. In another, the supporting evidence for her Declaration included sifting through photos of physical abuse, and the destruction of her household. While this was very serious to read through, as Regent Law always says, attorneys have the opportunity to be counselors and healers. I was reading the worst experiences of these people’s lives, and I was able to help them by editing their statements for their application. While this is a weighty task, I was honored to assist clients. 

I also immensely enjoyed meeting clients from all over the world. It is always good to be around people who are different from yourself. This summer I was able to meet clients from Afghanistan, India, and Mexico. While I was able to help Christian missionaries with an adjustment of status, and a Christian pastor with an application for travel documents, I also was able to help Islamic clients. While many clients spoke English, some also had translators. This summer was a wonderful reminder to me that the world is wide, and I have been inspired to learn a second language. Additionally, being at the office allowed me to try different types of Mexican and Peruvian food!

Another valuable experience I had was being able to shadow Professor Valverde at United States Citizen and Immigration Services(USCIS) interviews. In the American immigration system, after a client’s file is submitted, they will have to go before a USCIS officer for an interview, and the officer will ensure that all the information is correct and that they meet the eligibility requirements. Interviews before USCIS officers are not adversarial like in court, and are meant to be more of a conversation. However a new rule has made it harder for those specifically seeking asylum. This rule was implemented in late July of this year, and gives asylum officers the ability to send applications directly to an immigration judge without meeting the applicant. This is a detrimental change for those seeking asylum, because unlike the interview, going before an immigration judge is adversarial as there are government attorneys arguing against your case. The new rule, in addition to the recent mass firings of many immigration judges, have served to make finding asylum hard for many people who have gone through so much already in their own country.

I was able to go to two USCIS interviews this summer, an adjustment of status interview and an asylum interview. The adjustment of status interview was at the Norfolk USCIS office and was fairly short. However the asylum interview was located in Arlington and was much longer. Since this interview was close to D.C. the office was naturally much busier. This was also a much more tense meeting as there was an alert that someone was to be detained while waiting for their interview. While I did not see the detention, someone was indeed detained despite going through the legal process. The actual asylum interview itself was interesting to witness, and the particular client I was with had been waiting for many years for his interview. I was honored to hear his story, and be able to sit in on this important moment.

One thing this summer has made abundantly clear to me is that immigration law is frustrating at times. But this summer  has also made my calling even more clear to me. Though our immigration system is dysfunctional at times, I want to provide diligent service to those who must go through it. Interning at Valverde Law reminded me that God is in control. It can be easy to forget the humanity of people who are different from oneself, but my summer internship allowed me to live out the reminder that we are all image bearers worthy of dignity.

This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

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Going into my summer internship in Pohang, South Korea with Handong International Law School, I did not know entirely what to expect. My Korean language skills were a bit rusty, and I was bracing myself for the intense humidity of a hot Korean summer. Initially, I viewed this internship primarily as a rigorous academic opportunity to conduct research and hone my legal skills. However, I leave with something far more profound: the recognition that God often orchestrates our paths far beyond our finite expectations, placing us exactly where we need to be to learn, serve, and grow.

My sequence of unexpected opportunities began at a press conference in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Invited by one of my professors—a former Director-General of Human Rights Policy, Education, and International Affairs in the National Human Rights Commission of Korea—I attended the 30th-anniversary gathering of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (“NKHR”), the world’s first and oldest non-governmental organization devoted exclusively to human rights for North Koreans. At the conference, I witnessed the culmination of three decades of sustained advocacy. I learned how their relentless coalition-building and documentation helped bring North Korean human rights violations to the international stage. This foundational advocacy paved the way for formal classification and global recognition that the North Korean regime’s systemic abuses—including forced labor, public executions, intentional starvation, and extreme restrictions on movement—are crimes against humanity.

While the systemic discussions were sobering, the forward-looking conversations about empowering the next generation of leaders were deeply inspiring. I was particularly moved by the resolve of two panelists, both of whom fled North Korea in their youth. They are living examples of resilience, leveraging their unimaginable hardships to serve others. One panelist, now a creator of cultural content, shared a memory of being struck by a teacher as a child simply for attempting to draw a portrait of the regime’s dictator. Today, he uses art and culture to challenge that same ideology and depict the reality of his people’s suffering to the free world.

The resilience of these advocates transcended age. Speaking with another panelist—an accomplished author who escaped as a child—I was struck by the realization that she penned her memoir at the age I am now. It was a profound reminder that suffering and courage does not have an age. Yet, when I shared how her story demonstrated such strength, she gently laughed, humbly noting that she was simply documenting a history of hardships she never chose. This striking reality of unchosen circumstances led me to reflect on my own heritage. I realized that if my mother’s grandparents and parents had not left the North, my life would look vastly different—if I existed at all. Meeting someone born and raised in the North who embodies such perseverance and hope against all odds was a moving experience.

This resilience became even more tangible when my legal research shifted to international human trafficking. While drafting a UN grant proposal to support trafficked North Korean women, I confronted the harsh realities defectors face in neighboring countries, particularly China. Due to ruthless repatriation policies that classify North Koreans as illegal economic migrants rather than refugees, these individuals are stripped of legal status, violating international non-refoulement principles and forcibly repatriated to North Korea. Driven into the margins, a staggering percentage of female escapees are trafficked into the sex trade or forced marriages.

While drafting the grant, I was invited to visit NKHR’s art healing program, the exact program the grant aimed to support. There, North Korean women who were trafficked shared glimpses of their stories through their artwork. One striking self-portrait was divided in half: the right side was painted in dark grays and black, depicting a woman shedding a single tear beneath three bunnies representing the children she was forced to leave behind, and a fourth representing a child she lost. The left side, however, was bright and full of light, featuring two bunnies above her head, representing her remaining children in South Korea, alongside praying hands and a cross—a testament to her finding faith and hope through the Gospel. Paintings such as these communicated a depth of ongoing pain and healing that words simply cannot capture.

Shortly after this visit, I presented the draft of the grant proposal to my professor and NKHR’s leadership. Knowing that this work would serve as a foundation to contribute to the educational and healing programs transformed the experience for me. It is one thing to research and prepare international funding applications and draft a project proposal; it is entirely another to look into the eyes of the people that funding will serve.

My time in South Korea reminded me that the often behind-the-scenes work of the legal profession—researching doctrine, drafting grants, and building partnerships—is ultimately about people. Before this summer, I could not have imagined sitting across from the brave individuals directly engaged in advocating for human rights. I leave this internship immensely grateful for the opportunity to have supported an organization that creates spaces for dignity and healing, and with a renewed commitment to using my legal education to make a tangible difference.

This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

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This summer, I had the privilege of serving as a legal intern at Handong International Law School (HILS) in Pohang, South Korea. The internship provided me with an exceptional opportunity to observe legal education from an international perspective, assist with comparative legal research, and work alongside professors and students who are committed to integrating legal excellence with Christian values.

During my internship, my responsibilities included conducting legal research, reviewing legal authorities, assisting with academic projects, and supporting various research initiatives related to U.S. law and comparative legal issues. HILS also places a strong emphasis on exploring how artificial intelligence can be incorporated into the legal industry. I attended weekly meetings where faculty and students discussed emerging AI technologies and examined how these tools can be applied to legal research, legal writing, legal education, and future legal practice.

One of the most valuable aspects of the experience was observing how legal education can integrate academic excellence with Christian faith, ethics, and public service. HILS demonstrated that legal education is not only about developing technical legal skills, but also about cultivating integrity, humility, and a commitment to serving others through the law. I was especially encouraged by the way the HILS community connected legal training with Christian values and a broader sense of calling.
I gained a broader understanding of comparative law and the importance of lawyers who are capable of working across legal systems and cultures.

The internship also strengthened my long-term career goals. As someone interested in practicing law in both the United States and South Korea, this experience reinforced my desire to build expertise in comparative law and international legal practice while using my legal education to serve others faithfully and ethically.

My internship at Handong International Law School was one of the most rewarding experiences of my legal training. I am deeply grateful to Center for Global Justice for making this opportunity possible through its internship grant.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the HILS faculty, staff, and students for their generosity, mentorship, and hospitality throughout my internship. Their encouragement created an environment where I was able to grow both professionally and personally.

This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

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This summer, I was an intern with International Christian Concern. They are a Christian non-profit that recognizes and acknowledges the reality of religious persecution. Their mission as an organization is to “ease the suffering of Christians in hostile places and aid, support, and empower them as they boldly live out their faith.”

They have several initiatives that carry out this mission. They prepare believers for persecution through counseling and training. They also provide emergency relief to persecuted Christians after they have suffered horrific acts of violence. To broaden their support network, the communications team at ICC publishes news stories and reports on Christian persecution. All of ICC’s projects help believers endure in a world that is actively rebelling against God. 

Jesus told his disciples to expect persecution for being his followers and students. In John 15:20, he says: “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” Persecution is a marker that we are living a godly life. Paul teaches in 2 Timothy 3:12: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

During my research for this internship, I found that all persecution stems from the sin of worshipping false gods. False gods aren’t always a physical idol. They could take the form of a totalitarian ruler or government, a culture, or a worldview. Compulsive submission is necessary for these alternative sovereigns to maintain some illusion of legitimacy. The world fears relinquishing power to our true highest authority, and rejects God’s sovereignty.

Because following Christ puts causes enmity with the world, Christians need to stand together and defend the rights of our brothers and sisters in the faith. This calling is clear from Proverbs 31:8-9; “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” International law, though imperfect, is a tool we can use to pursue justice.

In the spring of 2026, The Center for Global Justice partnered with ICC to create a report on religious persecution in Morocco. The team found that although Morocco is considered very tolerant compared to other Muslim-majority countries in the MENA region, the Christian community in Morocco has been stifled by the lack of recognition and protection from the government. Believers have reported forced observance of Ramadan and insufficient alternative options to Islamic, state-sanctioned burial rites.

This summer, I worked with ICC to leverage the CGJ’s report to its greatest effectiveness. Morocco has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). We can hold governments accountable to their commitments by appealing to the proper decision-makers. Morocco may have flown under the radar because their human rights abuses seem comparatively less egregious. However, we must reassert the truth; the fundamental rights of all people include the freedom to choose, change, and express religion peacefully. Anything less is a violation of human dignity. It has been encouraging to see Moroccan leaders interested in reforms, so we can have hope for positive change moving forward. Even if this does not happen, we hold fast to Jesus’ promises in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

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The Hebrew word Shalom is somewhat inadequately translated in our modern bibles as peace. The late Dr. Tim Keller has explained, “[w]e translate it as ‘peace,’ but the English word is basically negative, referring to the absence of trouble or hostility. The Hebrew word means much more than that. It means absolute wholeness—full, harmonious, joyful, flourishing life.”^[1] It is no wonder then that, when the Bible discusses peace, it is not just as an inward emotion, but as an outward harmony in our communities requiring our intentional effort and pursuit.^[2] As a result, Shalom is inescapably tied with justice. Hebrew scholar Dr. Jacques Doukhan has written, “Shalom is not just an emotion, a good wish, or a feeling of the heart. Shalom implies the hard duty to be just and right.”^[3] This means that when sin and crime destroy Shalom in our communities and leave broken survivors in their wake, the hard work of justice requires restoring those victims to absolute wholeness. Crime Victims Compensation (“CVC”) is one such avenue to begin this work of restoration.

Through a grant provided by The Center for Global Justice, I had the opportunity to work as a legal fellow this summer with Shared Hope International, a non-profit dedicated to ending domestic minor sex trafficking. One of the major projects the legal fellows actively contributed to this summer was aiding in the research and development of a CVC guide intended for trafficking survivors. CVC awards are a type of governmental monetary relief available to victims of crime upon application to the state CVC board. These awards are intended to help make survivors whole by reimbursing them for medical bills, loss of income, and other specific costs related to the specific crime they were victims of.^[4] However, while CVC is a necessary and valuable resource for trafficking victims, it remains one severely underutilized.

According to a national survey of state CVC administrators by NORC, 79% of administrators reported that human trafficking victims were underserved by their state’s CVC program.^[5] State CVC program statistics reflect the same disconcerting reality. In Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services, there were 228 cases of human trafficking involving 342 victims in 2024.^[6] However, in that same year, there were zero reported cases of paid CVC claims related to human trafficking in Virginia.^[7] The prior year told the same story with only one CVC payment claim paid for human trafficking in the amount of $3,045.^[8] Regrettably, Virginia is not the outlier, but rather the norm in the US. If our nation has an interest in making victims of crime whole, we are severely missing the mark when it comes to human trafficking survivors. When interviewed, survivors shared that the main reasons they did not pursue CVC compensation were because they either did not know about it or that the process was too complex for them to navigate on their own.^[9] Our hope is that the CVC guide can give survivors of human trafficking the awareness and tools necessary to access available funds and begin their journey of restoration.

Trauma-informed lawyering has been central in the process of creating this guide. My experience with Shared Hope has taught me that, even with our expertise of black letter law as legal professionals, good policy and legal work should primarily elevate the voices of those it serves and put the well-being and empowerment of survivors first. Early on in our fellowship, the legal fellows had the opportunity to sit in on a working group meeting discussing CVC awards with, not just lawyers and policymakers, but also mental health providers, social workers, and lived experience experts. The insights and feedback from that group have been crucial in the formation of the CVC guide. By addressing issues such as survivor re-traumatization and other non-legal barriers to CVC, the group demonstrated a holistic approach to policy work that is both practically effective and prioritizes the survivors themselves. Through listening to lived experience experts who shared insights from their own CVC journeys, the CVC guide was informed by those it will impact most and will empower other survivors to make informed decisions about participating in the process.

I joined Shared Hope this summer passionate about human rights and eager to better understand human trafficking. Throughout the summer I was involved in conducting legal research on cutting edge issues in the field, attending several congressional hearings and briefings, working and advocating together with other mission-aligned organizations, drafting internal memos on relevant current events, and writing on current legal issues related to sexual exploitation and trafficking. I certainly feel that I have met my goal of better understanding the complex issue of human trafficking and how to solve it in the process. Through practical experience I have come to a greater understanding of the truth that pursuing Shalom in excellence indeed requires hard work. Anchoring this short and accessible CVC guide for survivors were hundreds of hours of comprehensive legal research and advocacy by passionate attorneys, policymakers, working-group experts, Regent student staff, and Shared Hope legal fellows such as I. Pursuing justice for survivors takes hard work, but it’s work worth doing when it contributes to a survivor’s wholeness– a full, harmonious, joyful, flourishing life.

^[1] Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism 177 (Dutton 2008).

^[2] Jeremiah 29:7; Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:18; Matthew 5:9 (English Standard Version).

^[3] Jacques B. Doukhan, Shabbat Shalom, 48 Shabbat Shalom: A Journal for Jewish-Christian Reconciliation 12, (2001).

^[4] Shared Hope International, Issue Brief 4.2 (2023), https://reportcards.sharedhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2023-Issue-Briefs-4.2.pdf

^[5]NORC at the University of Chicago, Victim Compensation Barriers and Challenges (2024), https://www.norc.org/content/dam/norc-org/pdf2024/G259_Victim-Comp-Barriers-and-Challenges-Brief_Final.pdf.

^[6] Va. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., Human Trafficking, https://www.dss.virginia.gov/supporting-families/child-protective-services/human-trafficking/ (last visited Jul. 9, 2026).

^[7] Office for Victims of Crime, VOCA Victim Compensation Performance Data, https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/performance-measures/data-analyses/voca-victim-compensation.

^[8] Id.

^[9]Office for Victims of Crime, Crime Victim Compensation Program Initiative Fact Sheet, https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/pubs/crime-victim-compensation-program-initiative-factsheet/(last visited Jul. 9, 2026).

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This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Just Law International in Northern Virgina, and it has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my law school journey. Just Law International is immigration law firm, and I was in charge of two asylum cases during my internship.

During my internship, I worked on legal research, participated in client counseling, attended hearings, and drafted prehearing statements. Every day gave me a chance to learn something new and better understand what it means to serve clients through the legal profession.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that practicing law is about much more than knowing the law. Behind every case is a real person with a unique story, and many of the people seeking legal help are facing difficult and uncertain situations. Although I cannot share confidential information, meeting with clients and watching attorneys advocate for them showed me how important it is to listen carefully, communicate with compassion, and treat everyone with dignity and respect.

This internship also helped me grow personally and professionally. In law school, we spend a lot of time reading cases and learning legal principles, but working at JustLaw allowed me to see how those lessons are applied in real life. I became more confident in my legal research and writing, learned how to prepare legal documents more carefully, and gained a greater appreciation for the responsibility that comes with representing others.

I am very thankful to the Center for Global Justice, the generous donors who made this internship possible, and everyone at Just Law who welcomed me and invested in my growth. Thank you for your prayers and support throughout this experience. As I continue my legal education, I hope to use what I have learned to serve others faithfully and to pursue justice with both excellence and compassion.

This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

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This summer, I have made a habit of underlining every time Jesus says, “Truly I tell you.” It has become my personal flag in the text, a signal that whatever comes next deserves my full attention. One verse that has been a major theme of my summer work is Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” This summer has been one of the most meaningful seasons of my legal journey thus far. As a rising 3L at Regent School of Law, I have had the incredible opportunity to intern with two organizations that fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation. These experiences have deepened my passion for anit-human trafficking law and defending those who need it most. 

At the Center for Global Justice, I have focused on laying the groundwork for impactful client representation. One of my primary tasks has been preparing materials for the Human Trafficking Clinic that rising 3Ls, including myself, will join this fall. Through this clinic, students will have the opportunity to directly represent and assist victims of human trafficking as Virginia implements its new vacatur law. This legislation offers a critical pathway for survivors to clear their records of trafficking related offenses, helping them move forward without the weight of unjust criminalization. 

I have also conducted research on developing a Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) with Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). This initiative aims to bridge legal and medical services, providing holistic support to survivors who often face intertwined health, legal and social challenges. 

One of the most memorable experiences was joining a trip to Chesterfield Jail to participate in a SKIP (Survivors Knowing & Inspiring Peace) session. Being able to sit with survivors, hear their stories, and witness the power of community and restoration in such a setting was extremely eye-opening and once in a lifetime experience. 

At the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), my experience has included high level policy advocacy and direct connection with those affected by exploitation. I had the privilege of attending Senate Judiciary Committee hearings and related meetings, where I joined discussions with senators on critical reform. 

I also participated in Social Media Victims Remembrance Day, an event that brought together families of victims and survivors. Meeting these brave individuals and hearing their stories firsthand was both heartbreaking and inspiring. Their courage fuels our fight for meaningful change.

Beyond these events, I have contributed to several legislator meetings and worked on various policy reform projects while supporting active cases that NCOSE is litigating. Every task has reinforced how legal advocacy, research, and storytelling must work together to create systemic change.  

This summer has been a powerful reminder that the law is not just case books and studying for finals. It is a calling to defend the dignity of every person made in God’s image. I am grateful to the teams at the Center for Global Justice and NCOSE for investing in me and for their tireless work. I am especially thankful for the ways these experiences are equipping me as I prepare for graduation in 2027 and pursue a career focused on prosecution, public interest, and anti-trafficking advocacy. 

This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

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This summer, I had the opportunity to serve as a Legal Fellow with Shared Hope International through the support of the Center for Global Justice. One of the most meaningful projects I worked on involved researching crime victim compensation programs and examining how these systems serve survivors, particularly survivors of human trafficking. My experience with this project provided valuable insight into the intersection of law, public policy, and access to justice.

Crime victim compensation programs are designed to provide financial assistance to individuals who have suffered harm as a result of crime. These funds can help cover expenses such as medical care, counseling, lost wages, and other costs associated with victimization. At first glance, these programs appear to be an important tool for supporting survivors and helping them rebuild their lives. As I learned more about victim compensation, however, I discovered that access to these resources is often more complicated than expected. Through my research and participation in discussions with survivors and professionals in the field, I gained a better understanding of the barriers many survivors face when seeking assistance. While some individuals successfully received compensation that helped them recover and move forward, others encountered significant challenges navigating the application process or meeting eligibility requirements. In some cases, survivors of serious crimes received very limited compensation or were denied assistance altogether.

This experience taught me an important lesson that I will carry with me throughout my legal career: having a law or program in place does not automatically guarantee justice. Effective legal systems must also be accessible, understandable, and responsive to the realities people face. For survivors of trafficking and other forms of exploitation, factors such as fear, trauma, or delayed reporting can create obstacles that traditional legal frameworks do not always adequately address.

Beyond the substance of the project itself, I gained valuable professional skills. I strengthened my legal research abilities, learned how to analyze policy issues from multiple perspectives, and developed a greater appreciation for survivor-centered approaches to advocacy. Working on this project challenged me to think critically about how laws operate in practice and the role attorneys can play in identifying and addressing systemic barriers.

My internship at Shared Hope International has reinforced my commitment to public interest law and social justice advocacy. The opportunity to contribute to work that supports survivors and promotes meaningful policy change has been both rewarding and inspiring. As I conclude my fellowship, I am grateful to the Center for Global Justice for making this experience possible and for supporting opportunities that allow students to engage directly with issues affecting vulnerable populations.
This summer showed me that meaningful change often happens not only through creating new laws but also through improving existing systems so they better serve the people they were designed to help. Moreover, this summer has confirmed my desire to pursue a career that combines legal practice with public service. While there is still much work to be done in the fight against human trafficking, I leave this internship encouraged by the dedication of advocates, policymakers, and survivors who continue to push for meaningful change. Thank you to the Center for Global Justice for making this experience possible. It has been an invaluable step in my professional and personal development.

This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

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I had the honor and privilege of interning with the Center for Global Justice this summer, and the opportunities and lessons that it gave me are ones I will never forget. In my time interning with the Center, I had the privilege of continuing the work I had been doing this spring in preparation for the Center for Global Justice Survivor Survey. The survey, as one part of a broader research analysis, opened up the door to actually learning what the situations and predicaments that survivors who end up caught in the criminal justice system encounter. Helping with the logistics of a survey with over 200 responses was a blessing and an honor. In addition, I assisted in the creation of the second element of the research analysis—a public opinion survey to help create a better understanding of the public’s perception and beliefs around vacatur and expungement legislation for survivors. This survey will help bridge the information gap between the general public’s perception and the actual need for survivors as they escape from the horrors of human trafficking. The final part of this research report I was able to work on was developing the statutory and legislative research report. In doing so I examined the legislative protections for survivors present in all 50 states and narrowed down to the 5-7 states that left the largest gaps in their protections for survivors and helping them overcome the hurdles that inhibit their ability to fully reintegrate back into society. 

In addition to working on the Center for Global Justice Survivor Survey, I also had the opportunity to research and assist in new and developing legislation in the state of Virginia that is being passed to further assist in protecting survivors. I also was able to sit in on events with local leaders in both the community and government in the state of Virginia as the Center for Global Justice helps in educating individuals as to the need that exists and the efforts that individuals can do to create positive change and make a difference. 

My time working with the Center for Global Justice has been a pleasure and an honor and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of meaningful, long-lasting change that will make an impact in helping people gain their voice and autonomy back while shining a light on one of the most painful and evil issue still ongoing in our society today.

This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

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I chose Regent Law School because of the Center for Global Justice. Specifically, because of the opportunities and partnerships it had with organizations I could only dream of working for someday. As a first-year law student, I often found myself praying that the CGJ would one day have a staff position for a recent graduate – someone who could stay, build upon the foundation already laid, and help steward its incredible potential.

Little did I know that, just a few years later, I would become the first person to fill that role from 2024-2026.

I spent the first part of my fellowship in Uganda working alongside the Ugandan government and an NGO called Human Trafficking Institute to build capacity for locals in human trafficking and child sacrifice prosecutions. Right out of law school, I got to live out a dream I had carried long before I ever took the LSAT – advocating internationally for vulnerable people. While I was in Uganda, I experienced both the beauty and complexity of international human rights and criminal justice work, learning what it truly takes to sustain a program in a cross-cultural context. But perhaps the most valuable lesson was discovering what it takes to preserve my soul and physical health while doing this kind of work. Justice work requires more than knowledge and passion—it requires wisdom, healthy boundaries, discernment, deep dependence on God, and the humility to recognize that you cannot carry the weight of the world’s brokenness on your own.

When I came back from Uganda, I transitioned to an on-campus Fellowship position in Virginia Beach. Working within the CGJ, especially during the first three years of our Human Trafficking Clinic, gave me a framework for understanding grassroots advocacy and a front-row seat to what it actually looks like to build something from the ground up.

The last two years were a peek behind-the-scenes to the way God works all things together to bring His justice from heaven to earth. I assure you that He cares more about this work than we ever could. Throughout my Fellowship, I watched adversaries slowly become allies. I watched prosecutors, service providers, churches, legislators, and law enforcement break out of silos, learn to trust one another, and pursue a common goal. I saw spiritual warfare play out in real time inside actual courtrooms. But most of all, I watched God advocate for His Beloved and fill gaps in ways that the CGJ alone could not.

As the first person to occupy the on-campus Fellow position, I have had a unique opportunity to shape the trajectory of the CGJ by creating and maintaining systems that will allow the work we do to surpass my tenure. My work has been administrative, legal, and deeply ministerial. Throughout my Fellowship, I participated in legislative advocacy (including successful two back-to-back expansions of the vacatur law), client casework, donor engagement, intern preparation, church and service-provider partnerships, communications strategy, fundraising, and administrative development. I helped build systems for student onboarding and internship preparation, expanded the Center’s digital presence, developed new data tracking processes, strengthened donor communications, and created resources that will continue serving the Center long after my fellowship concludes.

This position has allowed me to deepen my understanding of trafficking dynamics and work closely with various stakeholders such as law enforcement, survivors and lived experience experts, service providers, and political officials. I gained a firsthand education in grassroots advocacy. It took me time to understand the framework—how relationships, coalitions, policy, education, storytelling, and persistence all fit together. Advocacy is rarely a single moment or legislative victory; it is the steady work of laying one brick at a time. Just as importantly, I learned where my strengths end. I discovered areas where I am not naturally gifted, learned to recognize my limits, and grew in humility. In many ways, the last two years have shaped me more personally than any season of my recent life.

It has been amazing to watch the Center grow as God has brought the right people at the right time, and to witness the momentum that has built over these last two years – largely thanks to Meg and her incredible vision and commitment to surrendering the work of the CGJ back to God. He is the one who sustains us.

As a recent graduate, I have been surrounded by mentors who are invested, peers who are equally passionate, and students who look up to me that I get to pour into and disciple. I have had a backstage view of how God is weaving a prophetic tapestry and equipping laborers to send them out into the harvest. The future of this work is bright and watching the next generation of Christian human rights advocates come alive in it brings me to tears. One of the greatest gifts of this fellowship was watching the Center grow from a small but faithful part of the Law School into an organization with expanding partnerships, growing influence, and an increasingly sustainable foundation for the future.

Trafficking and exploitation attack the very soul of a person — their dignity, their identity as one made in the image of God. This work is spiritual. The CGJ has equipped me to understand that, to carry it, and to contend for justice in both the physical and spiritual realms. I will always be grateful to Regent Law, the Center for Global Justice, and especially to Meg Kelsey for entrusting me with this opportunity. Serving as the CGJ’s first On-Campus Fellow has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I leave with immense gratitude for all that God has done and with great anticipation for all that is still to come!

This post was written by a post-graduate fellow at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

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