FAIR ANNOUNCES 2026 EMPLOYEE JUSTICE FELLOWS
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2026
[SAN FRANCISCO] – The Foundation for Advocacy, Inclusion and Resources (FAIR) is delighted to announce the selection of awardees for the 2026 Employee Justice Fellowships in collaboration with the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA). The program aims to encourage and support law students from diverse backgrounds who aspire to become employee advocates in their future legal careers.
About the Employee Justice Fellowships
The Employee Justice Fellowships are a prestigious 10-week fellowship program for law students who have demonstrated interest in employment law and social justice issues. Candidates participate in an initial interview conducted by members of CELA's Diversity Outreach Committee, and once hired by CELA member law firms, are eligible to receive fellowship funding from FAIR in addition to the salary from their hiring firm. This year, 11 fellowships of $5,818 each have been awarded, totaling $64,000 in fellowship funding.
The Employee Justice Fellowship program seeks to increase diversity among those practicing employment and labor law on behalf of workers. The program recognizes diversity in various aspects, such as race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, veteran status, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, language, geography, and overcoming personal hardship.
The 2026 FAIR Employee Justice Fellows are:
Haley Palumbo (Notre Dame Law School), hired by Ortiz Law Office, Inc.
Charles Caudill (University of San Diego Law School), hired by D.Law
Blaine Samson (UCLA Law), hired by Alexander Morrison + Fehr, LLP
Alison Salazar (UCLA Law), hired by Lyfe Law
Greta Heidrick-Barnes (Washington University in St. Louis School of Law), hired by LOYR, APC
Brinda Kalita (USC Gould School of Law), hired by Alexander Morrison + Fehr, LLP
Vasomnoleak Ly (Berkeley Law), hired by Bryan Schwartz Law, P.C.
Julie de Vaulx (UC Law SF), hired by Matern Law Group, PC
Riley Sanders (UC Law SF), hired by Avloni Law
Nicole Manssourian (Pepperdine Caruso School of Law), hired by D.Law
Ashley Huendo (UCLA Law), hired by D.Law
The Employee Justice Fellowship recipients expressed that this additional funding from FAIR will help them pursue careers representing workers.
“I am honored to be selected as a FAIR Employee Justice Summer Clerkship Fellow,” said Charles Caudill. “FAIR and CELA embody the values I hoped to find in the legal community before law school, easily exceeding my expectations. FAIR’s mission benefits society and serves as an inspiration for building meaningful diversity and representation in the legal profession.”
“It is an honor to be selected as a FAIR Employee Justice Fellow, and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity,” said Alison Salazar. “Advocating for workers is deeply important to me, and I am excited to be welcomed into the FAIR community, to continue learning and growing alongside the Lyfe Law team, and to give back in the years ahead.”
“Being selected as a FAIR Employee Justice Fellow is an incredible honor and will allow me to continue to advance my career as an advocate for employees,” said Ashley Huendo.
“Being in law school is a privilege that I could not have imagined growing up as a child of working-class immigrants,” said Vasomnoleak Ly. “With the FAIR Employee Justice Summer Fellowship, I hope to use this opportunity to learn how to advocate for workers' rights — especially in a time when our hard-fought rights are being assailed.”
FAIR President Navruz Avloni said, “The future of employee advocacy depends on ensuring that talented students from all backgrounds have a pathway into this work. These fellows represent not only exceptional promise, but also a shared commitment to justice, dignity, and expanding access to legal advocacy for working people. FAIR is proud to support the next generation of advocates who will shape a stronger and more inclusive legal community.”
For more information about the Foundation for Advocacy, Inclusion and Resources (FAIR) and the Employee Justice Summer Clerkship, please visit www.fair-foundation.org.
About FAIR
The Foundation for Advocacy, Inclusion and Resources (FAIR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting diversity, advocating for workers' rights, and supporting aspiring lawyers from diverse backgrounds.
About CELA
CELA is a prominent statewide organization of over 1,200 attorneys devoted to advocating for the rights of California workers. Committed to promoting diversity in the legal profession, CELA members focus on representing employees in cases of employment discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, unpaid wages, retaliation, and whistleblowing.
