Six students have been named the 2025 Lezak Social Justice Fellows: Parker Brocker-Knapp ’27, Grace Elkhal ’27, Brisa Franco ’27, Amanda Lee ’26, Brian Liu ’27, and Peren Tiemann ’27.
The Lezak Social Justice Fellowship honors the legacy of beloved attorney Sid Lezak. The Fellowship grants stipends to law students to fund public interest legal work during their summer months. The named fellows will be provided mentorship and professional guidance from judges and public interest attorneys.
This summer, the Fellows will work for several community organizations throughout Oregon, supporting various fields, including Immigration, Criminal, and Employment Law.
Parker Brocker-Knapp is serving SOAR Immigration Legal Services. SOAR provides legal representation to individuals seeking aid with immigration and refugee processes through region-specific programs like their New Americans initiative, Afghan project, Ukrainian Legal project, and Cuban-Haitian Assistance project.
Grace Elkhal is working for SOAR Immigration Legal Services. Through SOAR, Elkhal will serve as the only Arabic-speaker in the clinic, completing immigration filings and research, assisting in client interviews, and supporting clients through removal proceedings.
Brisa Franco is working with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). IRCO’s mission is to provide direct legal services to the most vulnerable community members, with a focus on Immigration Law, Disability Law, and Family Law.
Amanda Lee is clerking for the Northwest Workers’ Justice Project (NWJP), which works to improve wages and working conditions and protect workplace dignity by supporting the efforts of low-wage, immigrant, and contingent workers.
Brian Liu is serving the Multnomah Defenders Inc. (MCI) as a research and writing intern. MCI defends adults and juveniles in the courts of Oregon in criminal, juvenile, contempt, and appellate matters.
Peren Tiemann is clerking for the Oregon Law Center (OLC). The OLC provides free legal help for cases involving domestic and sexual violence, public benefits, and employment law.
Sid Lezak was one of the longest-serving US Attorneys in the United States’ history. He was also the father of alternative dispute resolution in Oregon, an activist, a community servant, and a mentor to many Oregonians. The Lezak Social Justice Fellowship (previously known as the Lezak Legacy Fellowship) honors his legacy.
Through the Lezak Social Justice Fellowship, a new generation of lawyers inherits the insight, guidance, and encouragement that Sid Lezak once offered to many of Oregon’s most distinguished citizens.
