The plight of immigrants and refugees in search of a better life. It’s a story Jennifer Gonzales, the daughter of Peruvian immigrants to the United States, knows well. From her family history to her two years of service with AmeriCorps at Project Citizenship to working with nonprofits in her native Cincinnati, Ohio, Gonzales has put helping immigrants find a better life at the top of her priority list. Now, on co-op with the Legal Centre Lesvos, Gonzales is assisting immigrants who arrive on the legendary island in the Aegean Sea.

“Our clients are primarily people from Afghanistan and the Middle East who are making their way to Turkey and then attempting to cross to Lesvos, where they can seek asylum and benefit from EU laws. Even though it’s a short distance, sailing here is quite dangerous,” says Gonzales. “Lesvos has become an epicenter of migration because it’s so close to Turkey and mainland Greece.”

Much of Gonzales’ casework feels familiar to her, such as meeting with clients and filing paperwork, but learning how the EU system works has broadened her understanding of the complexities of global immigration. “As a legal intern in a foreign country where nobody’s first language is English, I’m having to navigate a completely different universe. I have not had the experience of being a refugee, but to a small extent I now have some understanding of how complicated it can be to navigate a different language, legal system and culture.”

When not at work, Gonzales enjoys exploring the island’s glorious beaches and beautiful blue-green waters. “The best part of living on an island is swimming every day. I have really enjoyed the landscape.”

—Deborah Feldman

“At Takeda, I’m focusing on how the regulatory and commercial landscapes shape public health outcomes. I’ve seen how enforcement starts with self-governing practices and a commitment to putting patients first. I’ve gained valuable skills in complex commercial contract negotiation and review. I’m now comfortable navigating the pharmaceutical product review process to evaluate promotional materials for any potential legal considerations. Best of all, my supervisors are true mentors and role models.”

—Danika Marzluff ’24

“On co-op with Keurig Dr Pepper, I’ve drafted contract provisions and matrices, researched IP protection and regulation, observed settlement negotiations and even engaged in prelitigation work. I’ve become more effective at juggling legal projects of various sizes that require different skill sets and time investments. This co-op has helped position me for achieving my professional goals: working in a large law firm or as a transactional attorney in a corporate setting.”

—Kyle Josias ’24