Tulane Law Graduate Wins Prestigious Equal Justice Works Fellowship
A Tulane Law graduate has been awarded the highly competitive Equal Justice Works Design-Your-Own Fellowship, a nationally recognised opportunity that supports public interest attorneys launching innovative legal projects. According to Tulane Law School, Wyatt Beaver (L ’25) was one of only about 80 fellows awarded nationwide, making it one of the most prestigious public interest fellowships available.
The two-year fellowship, hosted by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) in San Antonio, will focus on providing legal services to low-income seniors facing housing instability and barriers to essential public benefits. Beaver’s project aims to address the challenges many older adults face when trying to secure safe housing or access benefits like Social Security, SNAP, and Medicare. As Tulane Law School reports, “Too often, low-income seniors are faced with a choice between public housing and homelessness,” said Beaver. “When they can afford housing, they are often exposed to predatory practices, poor maintenance that threatens their health, and a litany of other problems that degrade their quality of life.”
The issue is deeply personal for Beaver, who was raised by his grandparents in rural South-Central Texas. He recalls how they often felt overwhelmed by rapidly changing technology and institutions. As quoted by Tulane Law School, Beaver said, “I feel a calling to assist elderly individuals who lack access to the economic resources, education, and assistance to navigate legal and institutional challenges that threaten their quality of life.”
Beaver developed the fellowship proposal while working at TRLA’s Austin office during his second summer of law school. There, he noticed recurring legal challenges facing elderly clients and began crafting a comprehensive approach with support from TRLA attorneys, former EJW fellows, and mentors, particularly Professor Jane Maslow Cohen of the University of Texas, who has been a longtime advisor. According to Tulane Law School, Beaver credits the faculty, particularly Professors Clara Potter and Laila Hlass, and career counselor Robin Dunford for helping him prepare for the rigorous fellowship application process and interview.
Tulane Law School has a strong history of success with Equal Justice Works fellowships, with a number of students receiving these awards in recent years. Beaver hopes that his project will become a model that other legal aid organisations can replicate. As reported by Tulane Law School, he will present his findings and project framework at the Southern Poverty Law Conference in hopes of inspiring broader adoption.
As he looks ahead to the start of his fellowship, Beaver says what excites him most is the chance to serve his first client as a practicing attorney. As quoted by Tulane Law School, Beaver said, “I hope to provide a level of service that leaves them feeling that justice is not as unattainable as it sometimes seems.” It’s a goal that reflects his broader vision: a legal career rooted in service, driven by gratitude, and committed to the promise of equal justice for all.
