
Since 1981, the Post-Conviction Justice Project (PCJP) has trained hundreds of law students to stand for justice and contribute to legislation that is transforming our legal landscape.
Under the direction of PCJP Director Heidi Rummel and Co-Founder Michael Brennan at the USC Gould School of Law, the Project has advocated for thousands of clients at parole hearings, on habeas corpus in state and federal courts, at resentencing hearings, and in prison workshops.
The Project hires six supervising students each summer and enrolls ten additional students in the fall for the academic year. In addition to developing critical lawyering proficiencies through hands-on experience, students examine and discuss broader criminal justice issues.
Meet the Students
2023 – 2024 Students

Nicole You Advanced/3L
Nicole grew up in a small town in northwest Connecticut and graduated from The University of Chicago with a major in Political Science. She joined PCJP this summer because she wanted to use her legal training to help others and hopefully make a meaningful impact on someone’s life. Fun fact: Nicole was stuck in Nicaragua for two months at the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020 to May 2020)!.

Jaana Singh Advanced/3L
Jaana grew up on a “fish-shaped island” off the coast of Manhattan. While attending Bowdoin College, she traveled once a week to Portland, Maine to volunteer at a legal clinic that provided free legal assistance to low-income Mainers with civil legal problems. She joined PCJP because she believes in second chances, forgiveness, and mercy. Fun fact: Jaana loves Harry Styles and was the #1 fruit ninja player in the world in 2018!

Mackenzie Mullin Advanced/3L
Mackenzie is from the Bay Area, California. She went to New York University where she majored in Media, Culture, and Communication. Mackenzie joined PCJP because she believes in rehabilitation, second chances, and is passionate about prison reform. Fun Fact: Mackenzie has a french bulldog named Billie.

Clair Hagan Advanced/3L
Claire hails from Cary, North Carolina and studied journalism at UNC Chapel Hill before moving to Los Angeles for law school. She worked in government and politics before law school and joined PCJP to try to make a difference one case at a time. Fun fact: Claire likes to paint and (shameless plug) sometimes does pet portraits.

Laura Wang Advanced/3L
Laura is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and attended the University of Iowa, where she majored in English and Chinese. After graduating, she received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Taiwan and then moved to Portland, Maine to work at a study abroad non-profit. She is now pursuing a career in law to expand access to justice and advocate for indigent clients. She is humbled to work for PCJP and help clients regain their freedom. Fun fact: She has lived through a major flood, earthquake, and derecho.

Kathleen Moore Advanced/3L
Originally from Sacramento, CA, Kathleen graduated from USC Marshall School of Business in 2018 and is happy to be back at Gould getting her J.D. She joined PCJP because she believes in second chances and anti-carceral work. Fun fact: Kathleen has a 2017 Rose Bowl ring with her name on it from when she worked with the USC Football team in college. It’s so large it goes past her knuckle and is very hard to wear. Fight on!

Christian Adams
Christian is a third-year law student from Greenville, South Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Clemson University. He joined PCJP because he is passionate about U.S. prison reform and the history of the carceral state.

Shelby Enman
Shelby is originally from San Jose, California, and graduated with her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Texas Christian University. Shelby came to law school wanting to continue her career fighting for social justice and against structural oppression. She joined PCJP because of her passion for criminal justice reform and anti-carceral work. In her free time, Shelby can be found teaching yoga and practicing mindfulness techniques like meditation and journaling.

Caitlin Autry
Caitlin is from Sacramento, CA. She graduated with her Bachelors from USC in Law, History, & Culture with minors in Sports Media and Spanish. She joined PCJP because she is passionate about justice reform and believes that deserving clients should earn a second chance. She was a paralegal assistant prior to law school and loves to chat about sports and musical theater. Fun fact: Caitlin has played golf since she was 3 years old.

Anna Barbier
Anna moved to the U.S. from France during her childhood and was raised in the California Bay Area. She studied Political Science and Psychology in the Dual B.A. Program between Sciences Po Paris and Columbia University. Anna joined PCJP because she wants to work towards a more compassionate world, in which human dignity is affirmed and restored. She enjoys trying new coffee shops, going on long walks, reading memoirs, and being near the ocean.

Alanna Berger
Alanna is from Basking Ridge, New Jersey and studied history at the University of Michigan. Before law school, she worked at a law firm in Chicago. She participated in the Inside Out program in college in which she facilitated art classes with women incarcerated in the Southeastern Michigan area. Alanna joined PCJP because of previous academic and familial experience with the criminal justice system that instilled a desire to advocate for incarcerated individuals. Fun fact: Alanna was an EMT in high school.

Sophia Bordofsky
Sophia grew up in Santa Barbara, California before moving to Los Angeles for her undergraduate studies at USC. Now back as a law student, Sophia is ecstatic to be joining PCJP. Sophia credits her late Freedom Rider grandmother with instilling in her a passion for advocacy and criminal justice reform. She worked as a paralegal during her gap year and felt most excited about the pro bono cases she had the opportunity to manage. Sophia loves going to the beach, traveling, camping, and hiking (fun fact: she climbed Half Dome in Yosemite during a fire).

Avery Brogle
Avery is from Boulder, Colorado and attended the University of Colorado Boulder, where she majored in psychology and interned at a nonprofit providing social-emotional skills training to incarcerated individuals. She joined PCJP because she believes in anti carceral work and advocating for indigent clients. Fun fact: as a kid, Avery was an actual horse girl and won a national championship in Western horsemanship!

Kelly Chu
Kelly was born and raised in Chino Hills, California and is a proud alumna of the University of Southern California with a major in Philosophy, Politics, and Law. She joined PCJP because she believes in the transformative power of prison reform and is passionate about making a difference one person at a time, offering hope to those who need it most. Fun fact: Kelly is a commissioned artist and loves painting places she can’t afford to travel to (yet).

Peter Foster
Peter came to USC from Charlotte, North Carolina, by way of Jackson, Wyoming. Back home, he studied Public Policy and Costume Design at UNC Chapel Hill. He spent a couple years working on a ski lift before ending up in Los Angeles where he also works in the Federal Public Defender’s Noncapital Habeas Unit. At PCJP, he’s excited to work with clients trying to get back to their homes and loved ones.

Mia Grindon
Mia is an aspiring public defender. She grew up in Los Angeles and attended Northwestern University, where she double majored in Communications and Middle East & North Africa Studies. After a two-year stint as a digital product manager in New York City, Mia decided to pursue law to more effectively advocate for underrepresented individuals and interests. She joined PCJP because she is passionate about decarceration and expanding access to justice. When her schedule allows, Mia loves to visit her maternal family in France and help with the family business, winemaking.

Jasmine Kaur
Jasmine was born and raised in Angeleno, CA. She grew up in Van Nuys and attended UCLA , where she studied Sociology with Honors and Education Studies as my minor for undergrad. She initially wanted to become an FBI agent in high school and joined an extra criminal justice class. Her instructor taught in the Police Academy and she remembers touring a minimum security jail and seeing the hundreds of weapons locked away in the back closet contrasted with the inhumane conditions of the jail –– no privacy to pee, large metal slabs with three-tier beds, moldy roofs, etc. Since then, she’s maintained a passion for prison reform (specifically, abolition) and is excited to participate in PCJP. A fun fact about Jasmine is that she technically has five professional degrees and is currently completing her sixth (J.D.)!

Bridget Gehan
Bridget grew up in Los Angeles, culminating in her graduating from University of California, Los Angeles where she studied Political Science and Art History. Despite this, she is proud to now be a Trojan and to be a member of PCJP. Bridget believes that every person is capable of change and rehabilitation. Before and during law school, Bridget worked in criminal law with both prosecution and private defense. Fun Fact: Bridget plays soccer with the USC Law Soccer Team!

Leelah Hatcher
Leelah is from Corona, CA. She majored in History at Cal Poly Pomona and received her Master’s in History at Cal State Fullerton. Leelah joined PCJP because she is passionate about second chances. Fun fact: she holds the Pac-Man record at seven different arcades throughout California.

Rebecca Huryk
Rebecca is a second-year law student from the Jersey Shore. She studied political science and philosophy at Boston College. Before law school, Rebecca worked in politics and government, where she came to appreciate the power of the community in the pursuit of individual flourishing. She joined PCJP to put her skills to work because she believes the usual cruelty of the US carceral system is inhumane, ineffective, and arbitrarily applied to further subjugate marginalized individuals. Fun fact: Rebecca’s first job was dancing at a theme park

Naira Khaild
Naira is a second-year law student who has spent most of her life in California. She grew up in Los Angeles and moved to the Bay Area for college, receiving her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to law school, she worked at a plaintiff’s law firm for two years, assisting with a number of civil rights, employment, and consumer class action cases. She is passionate about criminal justice and prison reform, and is delighted to join PCJP and help clients regain their freedom. Fun fact: Naira was born in Australia (but unfortunately, she doesn’t have the accent).

Roshana Krishnappa
Roshana is a second-year law student from Naperville, Illinois. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Social Justice from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to law school, Roshana completed a year of service with Americorps, where she worked as a peer mentor and teaching assistant for students attending an underserved high school in Cleveland. Roshana is passionate about criminal justice reform and joined PCJP to advocate for clients with compassion and empathy. Fun fact: Roshana is an animal lover and recently fostered six kittens and their mom (who were found on the USC campus) with her roommate.

Elizabeth Miller Shai
Elizabeth is originally from Oakland, California and is proud of her Bay Area roots. She studied Sociology at Wesleyan University, where she taught a course analyzing depictions of crime in the media. Elizabeth joined PCJP because she believes everyone deserves a fierce advocate. Fun fact: her favorite TV show is Survivor.

Edward Muallem
Eddie is from Sacramento, California and graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a B.S. in Biology. He joined PCJP because he believes in rehabilitation and second chances. Eddie is excited to make a difference through the law in action and learn from the clinic’s clients.

Sonia Ost
Sonia is a third-year law student from Illinois who received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Religion from Colgate University. After college, she joined AmeriCorps teaching math to children in Flint, Michigan. She joined PCJP because she wants to advocate for clients to get a second chance to live freely. Fun fact: She gave a statement to the 40th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

Gabrielle Silberman
Gabrielle is a second-year law student who grew up in Tarpon Springs, Florida. She graduated from Boston College, where she majored in Applied Psychology and Theology and minored in Managing for Social Impact. Before law school, Gabrielle worked as a case manager at Homeboy Industries’ Youth Reentry Center and as an elementary school teacher. Gabrielle joined PCJP because she is passionate about access to justice, rehabilitation, and second chances. Fun fact: Gabrielle once built and launched a disco ball themed rocket that went up 3000 feet!

Aren Park
Aren grew up in Seoul, South Korea and graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a major in Journalism. She joined PCJP because she believes in second chances and freedom for deserving clients. Fun fact: Aren can spin a basketball and walk down the stairs at the same time!

Sophie Walker
Sophie is a third-year student originally from Dublin, Ireland but grew up in Houston, Texas. She received her Bachelors of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to law school, Sophie worked in the Travis County jail teaching life skills classes where she developed a passion for incarcerated individuals and their journey back into society following release. Sophie’s fun fact is that she graduated high school a year early and college a year early!
2022 – 2023 Students

Claire Hagan
Claire hails from Cary, North Carolina and studied journalism at UNC Chapel Hill before moving to Los Angeles for law school. She worked in government and politics before law school and joined PCJP to try to make a difference one case at a time. Fun fact: Claire likes to paint and (shameless plug) sometimes does pet portraits.

Laura Wang
Laura Wang is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and attended the University of Iowa, where she majored in English and Chinese. After graduating, she received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Taiwan and then moved to Portland, Maine to work at a study abroad non-profit. She is now pursuing a career in law to expand access to justice and advocate for indigent clients. She is humbled to work for PCJP and help clients regain their freedom. Fun fact: She has lived through a major flood, earthquake, and derecho.

Kathleen Moore
Originally from Sacramento, CA, Kathleen graduated from USC Marshall School of Business in 2018 and is happy to be back at Gould getting her J.D. She joined PCJP because she believes in second chances and anti-carceral work. Fun fact: Kathleen has a 2017 Rose Bowl ring with her name on it from when she worked with the USC Football team in college. It’s so large it goes past her knuckle and is very hard to wear. Fight on!

Nicole You
Nicole grew up in a small town in northwest Connecticut and graduated from The University of Chicago with a major in Political Science. She joined PCJP this summer because she wanted to use her legal training to help others and hopefully make a meaningful impact on someone’s life. Fun fact: Nicole was stuck in Nicaragua for two months at the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020 to May 2020)!

Jaana Singh
Jaana grew up on a “fish-shaped island” off the coast of Manhattan. While attending Bowdoin College, she traveled once a week to Portland, Maine to volunteer at a legal clinic that provided free legal assistance to low-income Mainers with civil legal problems. She joined PCJP because she believes in second chances, forgiveness, and mercy. Fun fact: Jaana loves Harry Styles and was the #1 fruit ninja player in the world in 2018!

Sophia Sahagún Advanced/3L
Sophia is a second-year law student from Santa Ana who received her B.A. in Philosophy from UCLA. Prior to law school, Sophia interned at the LA County Department of Public Health, where she conducted research on adverse health outcomes and disparate impact to low-income communities of color. Sophia joined PCJP to help deserving clients earn their freedom.

Sharifa Hurt Advanced/3L
Sharifa Hurt is a second-year law student from Los Angeles, who received her bachelor of arts from the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to law school, Sharifa briefly worked in the travel industry as a travel specialist for a luxury cruise line. Sharifa is passionate about criminal justice reform and joined PCJP to represent deserving clients working toward their release from prison.

Madeline Stefani Advanced/3L
Madeline Stefani is a third-year law student from Los Angeles, California who received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara. Madeline returns to the clinic for a second year because she believes in abolition and rehabilitation. She is fervently committed to utilizing her access to legal education to assist those who need, but cannot afford, legal representation. Fun facts: Madeline is a trained opera singer; she has not one, but two Lord of the Rings tattoos.

Angela Chuang Advanced/3L
Angela is from Orange County, California and went to USC for undergrad, where she studied Political Science. She joined the clinic for her 1L summer to advocate for second chances and has remained a part of the clinic since because she has truly loved working with the clinic’s clients and the wonderful team that makes PCJP what it is today. A fun fact about Angela is that the day before her very first day with PCJP, she got a puppy named Asami!

Rohan Garg Advanced/3L
Rohan Garg is a second-year law student from Southern California who received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at San Diego where he was a member of the mock trial team and international affairs journal. Rohan is passionate about criminal justice and joined PCJP to work with clients toward their freedom.

Ciara Hockey Advanced/3L
Ciara Hockey is a second-year law student from Virginia who received her bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy from Georgetown University. During her first year of law school, Ciara worked in re-entry services and immigration. Ciara joined PCJP because she fiercely believes in the power of hope and second chances. She joined PCJP to advocate for second chances for her clients.

Kosha Patel Advanced/3L
Kosha Patel is a second-year law student who grew up in Southern California. She received her bachelor of arts from the University of California at San Diego where she studied International Studies and Political Science and volunteered with AmeriCorps. Kosha is passionate about prison reform and increasing access to justice, and joined PCJP to make a difference in the lives of deserving clients.

Brianna Khong Advanced/3L
Brianna Khong is a second-year law student who received her bachelor of science in Media, Culture, and Communication from New York University. Brianna’s long-time passion for social justice drew her to PCJP. She believes the criminal system needs more people who protect individual dignity and foster compassion, and she enjoys connecting with and learning from clients this year.
Summer 2022 Students

Claire hails from Cary, North Carolina and studied journalism at UNC Chapel Hill before moving to Los Angeles for law school. She worked in government and politics before law school and joined PCJP to try to make a difference one case at a time. Fun fact: Claire likes to paint and (shameless plug) sometimes does pet portraits.

Laura Wang is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and attended the University of Iowa, where she majored in English and Chinese. After graduating, she received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Taiwan and then moved to Portland, Maine to work at a study abroad non-profit. She is now pursuing a career in law to expand access to justice and advocate for indigent clients. She is humbled to work for PCJP and help clients regain their freedom. Fun fact: She has lived through a major flood, earthquake, and derecho.

Originally from Sacramento, CA, Kathleen graduated from USC Marshall School of Business in 2018 and is happy to be back at Gould getting her J.D. She joined PCJP because she believes in second chances and anti-carceral work. Fun fact: Kathleen has a 2017 Rose Bowl ring with her name on it from when she worked with the USC Football team in college. It’s so large it goes past her knuckle and is very hard to wear. Fight on!

Nicole grew up in a small town in northwest Connecticut and graduated from The University of Chicago with a major in Political Science. She joined PCJP this summer because she wanted to use her legal training to help others and hopefully make a meaningful impact on someone’s life. Fun fact: Nicole was stuck in Nicaragua for two months at the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020 to May 2020)!

Jaana grew up on a “fish-shaped island” off the coast of Manhattan. While attending Bowdoin College, she traveled once a week to Portland, Maine to volunteer at a legal clinic that provided free legal assistance to low-income Mainers with civil legal problems. She joined PCJP because she believes in second chances, forgiveness, and mercy. Fun fact: Jaana loves Harry Styles and was the #1 fruit ninja player in the world in 2018!
Get Involved
If you are a USC Gould student, learn how to apply to PCJP. You may also follow us on social media:
You must be logged in to post a comment.