|
 Anna Christian Ceder
October 2005
Anna Christian
Ceder is a second year law
student who has
been volunteering with the
VLP Advocates
since the fall semester of
her first year. A
Women’s Studies major
from Milton, Washington, Anna has
participated
in the Child Support Project
since her first semester of law school;
this last summer Anna participated in
the Juvenile
Detention Teaching Program
as well as the VLP’s Child
Support Project.
When asked about her experiences with the
VLP, Anna
noted the importance of
pro bono
work:
Q: Why do you think pro bono work is
important?
A: Pro bono work should be a necessary part
of every attorney’s career. It
matters not what type of law we practice; we will be more blessed
than
many
other people. It is our duty as lawyers to donate our time to help
those less
financially fortunate than us.
The legal
profession has grown to be an admired and respected field
because of attorneys
who have selflessly given from themselves to other
people. Every generation
has a responsibility to help perpetuate a positive
view of our legal system. By
incorporating pro bono work into our
practices, we can reach more of the
population of the country, and thus
can help encourage access to the
legal system for
all people. In a country
where the gap between the “haves” and
“have-nots” is
widening to an
irreparable point, it is imperative that every
generation of attorneys
do all
they can to reach the entire population.
Q: What has been the most important thing you have
learned from
volunteering with the VLP?
A: The most important thing I have learned is
that, no matter what type of law I
practice, I must not forget to make pro bono work a part of my
practice.
Access
to the legal system is a fundamental principal of our country, and I
will not allow
myself to forget it. I hope to continue to be involved with VLP
or
a similar
organization wherever I practice.
Q: What do you do when you are not studying?
A:
When I am not studying, I, of course, volunteer with VLP! I am also
involved
with
several
organizations at the law school. For example, I am co-director
of a mentoring
program that pairs over 100 law students with undergraduate
students in order to
help with the law school application process and
answer general questions
the mentees may have. I am also vice-president
of the American
Constitutional Society, a non-partisan group dedicated to
promotion
an
interpretation of the Constitution that is conscious of civil
rights
and individual liberties
of all people.
In addition, I enjoy playing with Bo and Izzy, my beagle and black
lab,
playing
tennis, reading cheesy novels, and, of course, spending time with
my
new
husband.
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Past Outstanding Volunteer
Student Awards |
