Alicia Kauk grew up in Petaluma. She attended the University of California, Berkeley as an undergraduate. This past summer she worked at the East Bay Community Law Center.
Why did you choose law school, and why USF in particular?
I attended law school to pursue work as a social servant and to uphold the rights of low-income, marginalized populations. I chose University of San Francisco School of Law because of the school’s strong sense of community and commitment to public interest law.
What kind of work did you do this summer or what type of projects did you work on?
I worked at East Bay Community Law Center, a nationally recognized poverty law clinic that provides free legal services to low-income Alameda County residents. Specifically, I served as a law clerk in the Health Unit. I assisted in providing holistic legal services to low-income HIV-positive clients and low-income families referred to us by medical providers at Children’s Hospital Oakland. My caseload included preparing for hearings to appeal disability benefits denials, advocating for General Assistance, CalWORKS, Food Stamps, Medi-Cal and other benefits programs, and providing legal trainings for medical providers and community members.
What did you find most inspiring about the work you did or the organization you worked for?
I was inspired by the unwavering commitment of the attorneys in the Health Unit at EBCLC. The attorneys zealously advocate for the HIV/AIDS community and low-income families who otherwise would be unable to assert their rights in the U.S. legal system. I was inspired by their selfless dedication to the public interest field.
What would you like to do following law school?
After law school, I aspire to become a public interest attorney with particular emphasis in upholding low-income health rights and disability rights. Eventually, I hope to work on health policy reform to ensure that all individuals have an equal right to attaining good health and to accessing the U.S. health care system.
