Iris Maute-Gibson, JD ’22, was recently named as a 2021 Regional Public Interest Award recipient by Equal Justice Works (EJW). Annually through the awards program, EJW’s National Advisory Committee recognizes eight law students for their exemplary commitment to public interest law and pro bono work.
“I’m grateful to EJW for lifting up my passion for public service. This recognition affirms the need to center legal education on how law affects individuals and shapes social and political structures,” said Ms. Maute-Gibson, whose experience includes serving as a student attorney with GW Law’s Prisoner & Reentry Clinic.
“The GW Law Prisoner & Reentry Clinic and Legal Aid Society of D.C. put theory to practice, helping me begin to understand my own complicity while seated across the table from clients who have well-founded distrust in legal systems,” said Ms. Maute-Gibson. “My privilege to pursue unpaid public interest opportunities underscores the need to invest in a more representative field of public interest lawyers.”
This summer, Ms. Maute-Gibson is serving as a law clerk with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Appellate Division in Baltimore, MD. She previously served as a law clerk for United States Senator Patrick Leahy, Judiciary Committee Counsel. Her work also includes conducting research as part of the D.C. Misdemeanor Decriminalization Pro-Bono Research Project.
Ms. Maute-Gibson’s career interests are at the intersection of policy and law. She plans to provide direct legal services and work to advance policies that protect and strengthen civil rights in the areas of housing, justice, and democratic participation.
In addition to the EJW award, Ms. Maute-Gibson also received a 2021 GW Law Public Interest Grant.
Founded by law students in 1986, Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, legal services organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice.