Equal Justice Works awarded Molly Coe a fellowship to support VOLS’ efforts to provide pro bono legal assistance to immigrant students. The fellowship is co-sponsored by MetLife and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.

Under the supervision of Elizabeta Markuci, VOLS’ Immigration Project Director, Ms. Coe will focus on assisting students who are eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), an underutilized pathway to citizenship for young people who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both parents. With Ms. Coe’s assistance, pro bono volunteers may represent young people seeking special findings orders from New York City Family Court and applying for permanent residence with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Ms. Coe will also conduct community outreach and develop a pro se guide intended to encourage the participation of the students’ caregivers.

Ms. Coe received her B.A. in Political Science from Boston University in 2008 and then served as the Outreach Coordinator for LawHelp/NY, a legal information website, and as a Project Assistant at VOLS. Ms. Coe has represented immigrant youth through internships at Brooklyn Defender Services, The Door, and CUNY’s Immigrant and Non-Citizen Rights Clinic. Ms. Coe graduated from CUNY School of Law this past May.

Ms. Markuci said, “Molly Coe has shown a deep commitment and passion for immigrant rights work and we are thrilled to have her join the Dream Not Deferred project.”