Robert E. Wone Fellowship | AEF will award the Robert E. Wone Fellowship to one applicant each year. Created in 2007, this fellowship is awarded to the applicant who most embodies what a former director, Robert E. Wone, sought to be as a lawyer—a trusted member of the community, making a difference in public policies and seeing his efforts improve the circumstances of those around him. The winner of the Wone Fellowship will receive a total stipend of $6,000.  The Wone Fellow will receive $5,500 of that stipend at the beginning of the summer. The Wone Fellow will then be responsible for completing the internship to the satisfaction of his or her employer, providing a written summary of the work he or she performed, and submitting a photo of himself or herself to appear in AEF’s annual newsletter. Upon fulfilling these conditions, the Wone Fellow will receive the remaining $500 of the stipend.

AEF Public Interest Fellowships | AEF will award AEF Fellowships to applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to public service.  Each AEF Fellow will receive a total stipend of $4,000.  Each AEF Fellow will receive $3,500 of that stipend at the beginning of the summer. Each AEF Fellow will then be responsible for completing the internship to the satisfaction of his or her employer, providing a written summary of the work he or she performed, and submitting a photo of himself or herself to appear in AEF’s annual newsletter. Upon fulfilling these conditions, each AEF Fellow will receive the remaining $500 of the stipend.

Angela Chen, Recipient of the 2023 Robert E. Wone Fellowship

Angela Chen is a rising 2L at American University Washington College of Law. At WCL, she is a member of the Mock Trial Honor Society, the incoming Treasurer for the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, a Junior Staffer for the Criminal Law Practioner, and an active member of the Equal Justice Foundation. Before beginning law school, Angela worked in higher education and interned for the House of Representatives. This summer, she will be interning at the Office of the Public Defender for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church. She is looking forward to gaining valuable hands-on experience that will assist in her pursuit of a career in public defense in the DMV area. Angela is extremely grateful towards AEF for their support of her work this summer and is honored to have been chosen as a recipient of the Robert E. Wone Fellowship.

Jill Chien, 2023 AEF Fellowship Recipient

I am very grateful to be a 2023 AEF Public Interest Fellow. The stipend from this fellowship will fund my summer work as a law clerk in the Trial Division at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Prior to law school, I worked as a social worker in various public defender offices, and my desire to continue promoting language access and culturally sensitive advocacy within existing justice systems motivated me to pursue a legal education. I strongly believe in the efficacy of interdisciplinary practice, and I hope to integrate my background in clinical social work and social policy with formal legal training so I can return to indigent defense with a more multifaceted perspective upon graduation.

Breanna de Vera, 2023 AEF Fellowship Recipient

Breanna (Bre) de Vera is a rising 3L at Georgetown University Law Center and an incoming summer legal intern at the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press in Washington, D.C. At RCFP she will assist on First Amendment impact litigation and provide legal support to journalists. She has previously worked as a legal extern at National Public Radio and as litigation intern with the Knight First Amendment Institute. After graduation, she hopes to practice as a First Amendment lawyer, defending press freedom and journalists' rights. At Georgetown she serves as the treasurer of APALSA, is the Diversity and Development Managing editor of the Georgetown Law Tech Review, and is both a technology law and public interest scholar.

Leah Haynes, 2023 AEF Fellowship Recipient

Leah Haynes is a rising 3L at Georgetown University Law Center. This summer, she will be working at Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services which provides direct legal services to foreign-born individuals and their families. Leah is an ARCP Executive Editor for the Georgetown Law Journal and has interned with FordHarrison, the Surveillance Technology and Oversight Project, and ALight Legal, PLLC. During her 3L year, she will be studying abroad at ESADE Law in Spain and will be working with Georgetown's CALS Clinic to provide representation to refugees seeking political asylum in the U.S. After graduation, Leah hopes to pursue a career in public interest immigration law.

Zulekah Tasneem, 2023 AEF Fellowship Recipient

Zulekha Tasneem is a rising 2L at William & Mary Law School. She received a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and previously interned with different global health non-profit organizations in pursuit of advancing health equity. At William & Mary, Zulekha serves as the Diversity Chair for the Student Bar Association, 1L Representative for the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, and a Teaching Fellow for the Legal Research and Writing Program. This summer, she will work as a Legal Intern for the Appeals Division at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). DMAS is responsible for administering Virginia's Medicaid program to support low-income individuals and families, and the Appeals Division helps determine Medicaid coverage and eligibility. Zulekha is looking forward to playing a critical role in ensuring that the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations are met in the future and through DMAS this summer.