Congratulations to the 2019 Rising Stars | National Immigrant Justice Center

Keep families together, prevent a neighbor's deportation, and protect people seeking safety.

A mother poses and smiles with her three young daughters and a family friend in the lobby of a law firm after winning asylum.

$50

Supports a month of secure phone calls with a lawyer

$100

Provides a legal consultation to keep a family together

$300

Screens 10 people for a workshop to apply for asylum

Author

Julia Toepfer

The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) gives the Rising Star Awards to recognize associate or junior-level attorneys who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to ensuring access to justice for immigrants by devoting substantial time to NIJC pro bono work, serving a significant number of NIJC clients, or representing clients with complex cases. The Rising Star Awards are presented during NIJC's annual Human Rights Awards.

2019 AWARDEES:

Benjamin Brunner, Sidley Austin LLP

Image with picture of and quote from Benjamin Brunner, 2019 Rising Star

Michael Educate, Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP

Mike Galas, Gibson Dunn

Image with picture of and quote from Mike Galas, 2019 Rising Star

Sara Ghadiri, Chapman & Cutler LLP

Yashas Honasoge, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Nancy Nemeth, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP

Margaret O’Connor, Dechert LLP

Mariska Richards, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Whitney Schmidt, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Benson Zak

Image with picture of and quote from Benson Zak, 2019 Rising Star

Julia Toepfer is the marketing and online engagement manager at the National Immigrant Justice Center.