Dev is a law student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who is primarily interested in public interest law. A proud nonbinary person, Dev has a strong background in advocacy and organizing in their hometown of Charlotte. Before law school, Dev was the chapter coordinator of PFLAG Charlotte, where they led workshops and presentations about LGBTQ+ justice. These workshops and presentations fostered a passion for telling their story and the stories of other marginalized groups. Outside of the legal field, Dev enjoys playing the clarinet in the Triangle Pride Band, reading and watching psychological thrillers, dancing, and working on choreography. They believe deeply that joy and rest are resistance and love practicing that resistance everyday.
MLK Intern, Fair Housing Project
What inspired you to pursue a career in law or social justice?
I have a background in storytelling, advocacy, and organizing and I really wanted to find a way to make that a career so that I could amplify the voices of those who have been silenced.
Why did you choose to intern with Legal Aid of North Carolina?
I believe firmly in access to justice for all people, especially those who have historically been denied access. North Carolina has some of the worst indicators of economic mobility in the country so it’s an honor to be able to serve people who have been given a raw deal simply because of where they’re located.
What do you hope to gain from your experience at LANC?
I hope to gain the most comprehensive understanding of all of the ways that housing implicates all facets of our client’s lives that I can. I hope to make clients feel seen and listened to. I hope to gain mentors that I can lean on when social justice lawyering inevitably gets difficult.
What are your long-term career goals, and how do you envision your experience at LANC contributing to them?
Long-term, I actually think I want to stay at LANC. There might be opportunities to move to a civil rights litigation firm, but, for now, I’m really happy at LANC and could see myself doing it for a while.