An Indiana University Maurer School of Law graduate is one of 84 recipients of a 2022 Equal Justice Works Fellowship from the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law.
Kat Grant, who graduated May 7, will spend two years working to improve the legal landscape for LGBTQIA+ people in the United States through a focused effort on advocacy based on the free exercise and establishment clauses of the First Amendment.
“As a queer person who grew up in a conservative religious community, I know first-hand how important the separation of church and state is to ensure the safety and dignity of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities,” Grant said.
Members of the 2022 class of Equal Justice Works Fellows were selected from 385 applications. Each applicant designs a unique project in partnership with a legal service organization. The projects are funded by law firms, corporations, private foundations, and individual supporters. This year’s class includes graduates from 45 law schools across the country. Fellows will work at 76 different legal service organizations across 20 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
“We’re proud to see the Law School’s long legacy of outstanding public interest lawyers continue with Kat’s selection as an Equal Justice Works Fellow,” said Dean Austen Parrish. “Their dedication to improving the lives of those from traditionally underserved communities will have a lasting impact.”
Grant said their passion for advocacy started with their experiences as an openly queer student, reaffirming their commitment to “making the world a safer, more equitable place for all members of LGBTQIA+ communities.”
Grant will work on litigation through representation and amicus briefs as LGBTQIA+ rights cases make their way through the court system. They will also work on public educational materials, including know your rights resources and webinars, and participate in legislative advocacy efforts.
“It is an honor for Equal Justice Works to play a role in helping new public interest lawyers pursue their passion for public service and equal justice,” said Jessica Ryckman, Equal Justice Works Director of Fellowships. “We are proud to support Kat in their work to improve the legal landscape for LGBTQIA+ people in our country and we look forward to highlighting their contributions over the next two years.”
A native of Washington, Indiana, Grant earned their undergraduate degree in political science from Indiana University Bloomington. During their time at the Maurer School of Law, Grant served as co-director of the Law School’s LGBTQ+ Project, as student chair of the National Lawyer’s Guild Disability Justice Committee, as a member of the Disability Justice Committee for the Maurer Chapter of the National Lawyer’s Guild, and was involved in OUTLaw, a student alliance working to promote equal rights and protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender.
Grant was honored on May 6 with the Leonard D. Fromm Public Interest Student Award, presented by the Law School’s Public Interest Law Foundation to a student who excelled at community service. Grant completed more than 250 hours of pro bono service during their time at Indiana Law.
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