From Resource Sharing to Law School- a Story of Impact

In our work, we often don’t have the chance to hear the next chapter of a client’s story. We connect folks with resources at a key point in their lives and then lose contact as they make their way toward greater self-sufficiency.  

So, when a former client and volunteer pair reaches out to let us know the client graduated from William & Mary Law School, we are thrilled! 

SW* requested services from ReEstablish Richmond in late 2019. She was seeking support to study law in Virginia. In her home country, she earned her law degree and worked in multiple embassies. She came to the US nearly a decade ago seeking safety and dignity for herself. While she knew the law in her home country, she was unfamiliar with the process in Virginia.   

When the pandemic hit in 2020, ReEstablish Richmond pivoted to support in new ways. We virtually matched SW with Sarah, a volunteer who had recently moved to Richmond. Sarah lost her job in early pandemic cuts and was looking for a meaningful way to connect with the community.  

 With a master's degree in Higher Education and a career working at different educational institutions, Sarah was the perfect match to work with SW. Together, they explored the process of applying for law schools in the US, decided which school programs would be a good fit for SW, and navigated the financial aid process for foreign-born students. ReEstablish Richmond worked with SW to get her previous credentials evaluated and recognized in the US, a service we are expanding to meet local demand among funding cuts. 

What started as resource sharing turned into a mutually supportive relationship during a transitional time in both of their lives. Sarah reflected on her experience during that time, saying, “honestly, I’m not sure who helped who more during that time. It was an emotionally low time for me, and SW checked in on me. We supported each other.” 

SW accepted an offer to join the LLM program at William & Mary Law School, having also been admitted to the University of Richmond’s Law School. As the world slowly adjusted to post-COVID realities, the two settled into a rhythm of annually checking in on each other.  SW graduated from William & Mary, became an attorney in good standing, and passed the DC Bar Exam. She reached out to Sarah to let her know this good news and that she was sitting for the Virginia Bar Exam. “It was so uplifting to hear,” Sarah shared, “I burst into tears.”  

The two reconnected recently and spent hours catching up at a local Olive Garden. They brainstormed plans for SW to launch her new career in the US. In the short term, her goal is to support her family by working in immigration or humanitarian law.  In the long-term, she plans to establish her own solo practice in immigration law to help people like herself who are seeking safety. 

We asked SW to reflect on her experiences and what she would like to share with the community about her journey. “I am so grateful to be here, grateful to be free, grateful to be understood and not judged,” she shared. “And grateful for ReEstablish Richmond and all the community partners that supported me.”  

She reminisced about the first time she learned about ReEstablish Richmond and other resources for newcomers at the annual World Refugee Day Resource Fair (now included annually at Multicultural Festival). She wanted newcomers to know that “there are people that are out there to help even if we don’t know it. Try to go to the Multicultural Festival in June, it is so helpful to learn about resources and share food. Understand that resources exist and there are people there to support.”  

After nine years of going through the process, SW has received asylum in the US, passed the Virginia Bar Exam and is ready to practice law! As she seeks out what the next phase in her journey will look like, she shared, “I want (the community) to be open to the situation of others who don’t have the same freedom we have here. Think about their experiences without freedom. Here, I do not experience judgment and only feel peace.”  

Sarah has been so excited to share her experience with her family, “with everything that is going on right now, I was thrilled to share with my community, look at this amazing woman who is now trying to help others.” She encouraged others “to get involved and do what you can in the community. It was so rewarding and uplifting for me.” 

ReEstablish Richmond is continuing to work with SW through our Employment Navigation program, helping her hone her resume, making networking connections with other practitioners, and exploring opportunities in her field.  It is a privilege to connect people like SW and Sarah every day and to experience the beauty that comes when our community supports one another.

*Initials used at the client's request.