Environmental Justice Clinic - Interns, Fellows, and Alumni

Jump to...

Interns

Fellows

Consulting Attorneys

2025-2026 Interns 

Carly Costello is a 3L JD/MPS student at the University of Miami School of Law and Vice President of the Environmental Law Society. Carly grew up on a farm in Maryland and later became involved with a local raptor rehabilitation center. Carly developed a strong passion for native and migratory birds, which led her to pursue a career in environmental law. She graduated from American University with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in Law and Society. Carly has gained experience in nonprofit legal advocacy through internships with Miami Waterkeeper, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Everglades Law Center. As an intern with the Indigenous Justice team, Carly looks forward to advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ lands. 

Christopher Cahan is a 2L student who graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami in 2024 with a major in History and a minor in Political Science. Christopher is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He has interned twice with the Miami State Attorney’s Office and has an interest in litigation, toxic torts, and environmental sustainability. This year, Christopher is excited to gain hands-on experience in these areas as he helps further the objectives of the Old Smokey team and the Environmental Justice Clinic. 

Eliza Kirk is a 2L student at the University of Miami School of Law. She graduated from Pitzer College with a B.A. in Sustainability and the Built Environment, with a minor in World Literature, in 2023. Eliza is honored to work as an intern with the Environmental Justice Clinic on its Thriving Communities team in Overtown, Miami. Eliza will also work as a Palermo Fellow with the Center for Ethics and Public Service's Community Equity Lab for the upcoming school year. Her deep-seated interest in environmental justice and transformative advocacy has led Eliza to work in climate justice campaigning, affordable real estate development, and community-based participatory action research. After law school, Eliza plans to pursue a career focusing on community-centered development and sustainable design.

Elsa Iannotta is a 2L from the Florida Keys with a lifelong love for the natural beauty of South Florida. Growing up exploring coral reefs and the backcountry inspired her passion for environmental protection. Elsa hopes to combine this with her commitment to advocacy to ensure communities can thrive alongside—and continue to enjoy—the natural environment. She graduated magna cum laude from California Polytechnic State University with a B.A. in Political Science and a pre-law concentration. At the University of Miami School of Law, Elsa has developed an interest in legal research and writing and serves as a Junior Staff Editor on the University of Miami Law Review. As an intern with the Environmental Justice Clinic, Elsa will contribute to efforts to preserve community access to Lake Carmen and Silver Blue Lake. 

George Carty is a 3L transfer student at the University of Miami School of Law. Before law school, George served nine years in the U.S. Air Force providing specialized close-in security for aircrew, cabinet-level officials, and critical resources in high-threat environments worldwide. While serving, George earned his undergraduate degree in International Politics at Penn State University. After separating from the military, he worked as a law clerk for a civil litigation firm in Chicago and interned at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office in Illinois. George hopes to bring experience in research, investigations, and litigation to advance the goals of the Stormwater Coalition at the Environmental Justice Clinic.

Jaya Peruvemba is a 2L student at the University of Miami School of Law. Jaya grew up in California and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she majored in Environmental Studies and Political Science. During undergrad, she worked at Alston & Bird in the real estate division, focusing on environmental impacts in land use and development projects. Her academic and professional experiences have fueled a strong interest in land use law and toxic torts. As an Environmental Justice Clinic intern, Jaya is eager to build skills in advocating for communities facing environmental and public health challenges. 

Juliana Gorina is a 2L student and native of Miami, Florida, who has always been passionate about environmental protection and justice. Juliana graduated magna cum laude and with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Florida International University’s Honors College, earning a B.S. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Natural Resource Sciences. At the University of Miami School of Law, Juliana is pursuing her interest in environmental law through leadership and advocacy. She serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Environmental Law Society, Vice President of Miami Law Women, and a Fellow with the Center for Ethics and Public Service. During her 1L summer, she was a HOPE Fellow with the People’s Economic and Environmental Resiliency (P.E.E.R.) Group, an environmental justice nonprofit in Miami-Dade County. Currently, Juliana is an intern with the Environmental Justice Clinic’s Indigenous Justice team, where she will support efforts to preserve Indigenous Peoples’ culture and community, protect vulnerable lands, and conserve endangered species in South Florida. 

Lindsay Sheldon is a 2L student from Marietta, Georgia. Prior to attending the University of Miami School of Law, Lindsay graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in Biology. As an undergraduate student, she volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem, served on Clemson’s Humanities Prison Initiative team, and interned with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office in the Victim Advocacy Division. Lindsay is eager to collaborate with the Old Smokey team and looks forward to strengthening her advocacy skills while learning more about the Miami community

Pablo Puga is a 2L student from Miami, FL. In high school, he founded and ran a nonprofit serving homeless communities across Miami-Dade and Broward County, coordinating meal distribution and outreach programs. That experience—and the relationships built through it—instilled in him a lasting commitment to service and community advocacy. Pablo graduated from the University of South Florida in 2024 with a B.S. in Marketing as a member of the Business Honors Program, completing his thesis on innovation and non-routine decision-making in the food service industry. At the University of Miami School of Law, Pablo is a Chaplin Family Scholar, Vice President of the Regulated Industries Legal Society, Pro Bono Liaison for the Cuban American Bar Association, 2L Representative for the Hispanic Law Students Association, and a 1L Pod Mentor. This past summer, he worked as a law clerk at Heise Suarez Melville, where he assisted with complex commercial litigation matters. As an intern in the Environmental Justice Clinic, Pablo is excited to contribute to the Thriving Communities team, advancing environmental equity and supporting vulnerable communities throughout South Florida.

Tania Garcia-Solis is a 2L student from Miami. She graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Sociology, summa cum laude and with distinction from the Honors College. During her undergraduate studies, she was the Sustainability Director for Kappa Alpha Theta. At the University of Miami School of Law, she earned a Dean’s Merit Scholarship and began her involvement with environmental law as a 1L Representative for the Environmental Law Society. During her 1L summer, Tania was a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Paul C. Huck in the Southern District of Florida. She is deeply involved with campus life as the 2L Representative for the Environmental Law Society, a Junior Staff Editor on the University of Miami Law Review, a Research Assistant for Professor Charlton Copeland, and a Dean’s Fellow for Professor Andres Sawicki’s Property class. Tania is excited to get hands-on experience with environmental litigation and community advocacy.   

2025-2026 Fellows

Kyle Spohn is a 3L at the University of Miami School of Law. He graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in May 2023 with a B.S. in Business Management and minors in Communication Studies and Spanish. Kyle serves as a Hunton Fellow with the Center for Ethics and Public Service (CEPS), working to promote housing and health equity in Miami communities threatened by gentrification. He is also an Articles & Comments Editor for the Inter-American Law Review. During his 1L summer, Kyle served as a UM Law HOPE Fellow, working on a variety of local projects related to environmental justice in Miami. Last summer, he worked for a boutique land use, zoning, and environmental law firm in Miami. Kyle is excited to continue pursuing his passion for public interest litigation and environmental law as a fellow with the Environmental Justice Clinic’s Old Smokey Team. 

 Olivia Pertierra is a 3L at the University of Miami School of Law, with a focus on litigation. She graduated from the New College of Florida in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences. At New College, Olivia developed an undergraduate thesis titled “Somos Seres Humanos, Merecemos Vivir Dignamente:” Coloniality and Human Rights in the Face of Family Separation. After graduating, she moved back to Miami to contribute to her community. She worked with local organizations such as Food Not Bombs, distributing food and COVID-19 protective gear to houseless groups, and helped provide protest safety and first aid to participants in the summer 2020 protests against police brutality. As a 1L, Olivia joined the Civil Rights Reading Group, where she participated in research on racially discriminatory policies affecting West Grove residents’ access to public pools. During the summer of 2024, she served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow at the Office of the Miami-Dade Public Defender. As a 2L and intern with the Environmental Justice Clinic, Olivia advocated alongside Indigenous Peoples groups throughout Florida and helped establish the clinic’s inaugural Indigenous Justice Team. During the summer of 2025, she continued her work at the clinic with the Housing Justice Team, while also expanding her experience in family law, criminal defense, and a wide range of civil litigation—including probate, real estate, personal injury, and business litigation. Now, as a Certified Legal Intern and fellow with the Clinic, Olivia is eager to deepen her litigation knowledge with the Housing Justice Team and is honored to work alongside members of the Miami community advocating for their property rights. 

Olivia Fox is a 3L who graduated from the University of Miami in May 2022 with a B.B.A. in Marketing and minors in Business Law and Finance. Before law school, she worked as a legal assistant at a boutique law firm in West Palm Beach, assisting in plaintiff representation in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and employment discrimination cases. During her 1L summer, Olivia was a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow in the Dependency Division at the Office of Criminal Conflict & Civil Regional Counsel. During her 2L summer, she was a summer associate at Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., assisting in environmental and land use matters. At the University of Miami School of Law, she interned for the Environmental Justice Clinic on heat justice and climate justice matters. Olivia is a Dean's Merit Scholar, a member of the Honor Council, and the Business and Online Managing Editor for the Race and Social Justice Law Review. As a fellow, she is excited to deepen her environmental law and advocacy experience. 

Madison Payer is a 3L at the University of Miami School of Law. She graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Madison has received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Torts and the Dean's Certificate of Achievement in Health Law and Policy. She has interned with the Environmental Justice Clinic and served as a Dean's Fellow for a first-year Torts course. This year, as a fellow with the Environmental Justice Clinic, Madison is excited to continue working on its Indigenous Justice campaign.

Natalie Magill is a 3L with a focus on Environmental Law. For her undergraduate studies, Natalie attended Wake Forest University and majored in Politics & International Affairs with a minor in Environmental Science. During her 1L Summer, Natalie interned with the U.S. Coast Guard and worked on enforcement of pollution statutes and treaties. Natalie spent her 2L Summer as a summer associate at Smith, Gambrell & Russell in Atlanta, where she focused on environmental law. During her work with the Stormwater Team, Natalie hopes to further the objectives of the Environmental Justice movement and help those in the Miami community. 

Help us Make a Difference

Make a Gift Today