Summer Public Interest Fellow Advances Justice

August 12, 2025

Sophia Francisco, a St. John’s Law student, was spotlighted by the university for her Summer Public Interest Fellowship at CFR.

As Sophia helped CFR provide free legal representation to parents and youth targeted by systems of family policing and incarceration, she learned the importance of keeping an open mind and having empathy.

“Our clients aren’t just experiencing legal troubles, they’re also dealing with housing, employment, mental health, immigration, and other issues,” Sophia said. “There are strangers telling them when they can and can’t see their child, and there are random home inspections. With all of that going on, it’s extremely important to remember that these aren’t just cases on paper, but people experiencing their family being ripped apart. Effective public interest lawyering is holistic. It considers all aspects of a person’s life because that’s what leads a person to us. I hope to approach my career in a similar way and always look at the larger picture.”

Read the full article here.