Five Vanderbilt Law students worked for two legal non-profit organizations over their 2025 Pro Bono Spring Break to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee.
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition — Nashville, Tennessee
Under the supervision of Allen Shao King ‘21, students Claire Darrow ‘27 and Aaron Lam ‘26 conducted critical legal research to assist TIRIC in responding to the rapid wave of changes in immigration law.
“[TIRCC] strives to build a more inclusive and welcoming Tennessee by empowering immigrants and refugees, advocating for policy changes, and fostering community engagement,” Darrow said. “TIRCC stands out in the non-profit sector for having a dedicated legal team focused on providing free or low-cost legal help, including citizenship application assistance, and DACA renewals.”
During the student’s time at TIRCC, they researched the evolving immigration law landscape and acted as official legal observers at the Tennessee State Capitol during a demonstration of SB 1044/HB 0746. The experience also included a free immigration clinic where they helped legal permanent residents request documents to start their naturalization process.
“As a 1L, it was great to get out of the classroom, engage directly with clients, and offer guidance and reassurance during what can be an overwhelming and convoluted process,” Darrow said.
For Darrow, the trip sparked a new interest in immigration law while also serving as a reminder of why she came to law school.
“This experience sparked an interest in immigration law, one I might not have otherwise discovered without an opportunity like the pro bono spring break,” Darrow said. “It was a powerful reminder [of] why I came to law school, and I would highly recommend this experience to anyone considering a pro bono spring break in the future.”
OUTMemphis — Memphis, Tennessee
Students Peyton Rameas ‘27, Kelly Hall ‘26, and Olivia Hatch ‘27, under supervision by Lucas Cameron-Vaughn with the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, spent their break at OUTMemphis. OUTMemphis is a legal non-profit that empowers, connects and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community of the Mid-South.
Students created an informative procedural pamphlet to guide transgender and nonbinary individuals through the legal name change process. Each student volunteered to research on aspect of the name change process, with the result being the creation of flyers and procedural pamphlets that OUTMemphis can reuse for future events.
“Since [the name change process] is not linear, I am grateful I had the opportunity to help at the beginning by volunteering at the name change clinic to make the process less intimidating,” Rameas said. “The overall experience working with OUTMemphis was invaluable, and I would love to continue volunteering with the organization.”
