Meet Kazan Law’s 2015 Summer Asbestos Law Clerks
Asbestos law like other types of law practice is part of a chain that links the past, the present and the future. But at Kazan Law we have a special responsibility to forge new links in that chain. When I first started practicing asbestos law over 40 years ago, I hoped that someday there would be no need for asbestos law. I hoped that all asbestos use would become illegal and in the future no one would ever develop mesothelioma, the lethal cancer caused by asbestos exposure. But I underestimated the power of greed and the asbestos lobby business interests. – Consequently, we must strive to help ensure that there will be outstanding dedicated asbestos lawyers as we head towards the future. That is the goal of our asbestos law summer clerks program.
Kazan Law Summer Clerks Become Tomorrow’s Asbestos Lawyers
Our asbestos law summer law clerk program offers law students the chance to gain hands on experience in a plaintiff’s asbestos law practice. We fully involve our summer clerks in the daily workings of the firm in order to provide them with a realistic view of the rewards and demands of a plaintiff’s practice. Summer law clerks are given the opportunity to work with our experienced asbestos litigation attorneys as we prepare and try mesothelioma cases. Upon graduation from law school, our former summer law clerks are given consideration in our hiring process. Some of our current attorneys here at Kazan started their careers with the firm as summer law clerks. The list includes:
Justin Bosl (now a Partner)
Meet Kazan Law’s 2015 Summer Law ClerksHere is our outstanding team of asbestos law summer clerks for 2015
Jabari Brown returns to us for a second summer after completing his first year of law school at the University of Oregon where he holds office for the Oregon Law Students Public Interest Fund and Green Business Initiative Student Association.
“I chose to return because I recognize Kazan Law’s excellence in advocacy,” Jabari said. “I look forward to furthering my understanding of the professional advocacy techniques that the attorneys at Kazan Law utilize on a daily basis. I am interested in learning problem solving skills concerning asbestos exposure.
It takes a compassionate mind to champion victories for people who lack the resources to fight legal battles with large entities. I am interested in providing a legal voice to those who would otherwise have no remedy.”
Daniel Dellafosse is a second year law student at the University Of San Francisco School Of Law where he serves on the Law Review and Maritime Law Journal. Daniel is also active with La Raza and the Black Law Students Association. He has worked for the US Department of Labor and the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
“Wanting to help injured people is one of the main reasons I went to law school,” explained Daniel. “Plaintiff side asbestos litigation will also allow me to help the families as well. I am excited to be at Kazan Law because they are excellent at this and I know I will get great experience here. I spoke with their past summer clerks and they have only great things to say about them.”
Shanita Farris is a second year law student at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Several of her many activities there include the Berkeley Journal of African-American Law & Policy where she is senior articles editor, Boalt Hall Student Association and Juvenile Hall Outreach.
Shanita said, “I chose Kazan Law for my summer placement because of the firm’s commitment to helping a vulnerable group of people. The experienced attorneys here at Kazan are able to successfully fight for clients who have been harmed and are seeking justice. I wanted to be a part of a team of compassionate and hard-working attorneys that truly value and support the community.”
“I am interested in asbestos litigation from the plaintiff’s side because these plaintiffs are typically disadvantaged people who come from a community similar to mine.”
Tyra Singleton is a first year law student at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Tyra graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA, magna cum laude, in Sociology and Africana Studies. Tyra is also the inaugural recipient of the Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. ’58 Endowed Scholarship. Her past experience includes work with the Impact Fund in Berkeley and volunteer work with Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA.
“This summer placement gives me an invaluable opportunity to learn from the best. Kazan has a stellar reputation as expert trial attorneys and industry leaders in asbestos litigation,” Tyra said. “Additionally, it is a priority of mine to work for a firm that is committed to diversity and supporting the communities around them. I have personally witnessed the ways in which Kazan is changing lives through their Foundation’s generous support of community organizations and mesothelioma research. I admire and respect the great work they are doing on behalf of their clients and I am happy to be at a firm that has values similar to my own.”
Kazan Law Summer Clerks Learn By Doing
At Kazan Law, law students get the invaluable chance to learn by doing. Instead of listening to law professor’s lecture and reading text books, here these young people get to do real world law firm tasks such as:
- Helping draft parts of motions.
- Attending court hearings.
- Assisting in trial preparation.
- Writing legal memorandum.
- Fact checking legal documents.
In keeping with the needs of our community and the population we serve, our summer clerks reflect the diverse spectrum of America today. We consider it a duty and a privilege to help educate these bright young future lawyers about the ongoing need to balance the scales of justice and represent those unlawfully exposed to asbestos by willfully negligent business interests.