My name is Euraja Anderson, Euraja is pronounced Eurasia (like Europe and Asia). I am a current 2L at North Carolina Central University School of Law with a strong interest in several areas of law, to include Criminal Defense and Juvenile Justice.
My yearning to work in juvenile justice begins with our education system, where a lot of our youth are usually enabled, based on the level of support that they receive or the lack thereof. Behavioral policies in North Carolina’s education system (specifically, for neurodivergent youth) require a strategic adjustment that I hope I am able to play an intricate role in contributing to in the future, as a lawyer. I believe that my B.A. in Sociology, in conjunction with my legal education will serve me well with the type of work I plan to pursue.
I previously interned with North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, where my persistence to commit a portion of my career to public service began. I had the opportunity to attend evidentiary hearings, interview family members of incarcerated individuals, and draft filings, such as petitions for clemency. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with NCPLS, and I plan to use all of my experience to build my toolkit as a young lawyer.
One of the most valuable lessons I was able to learn and take with me from NCPLS, is that sometimes people really do change. Many clients were incarcerated as juveniles, and have spent their 20’s and 30’s in a correctional facility, as well. It is always hard to tell whether maturing changed a person because of age, or whether jail forced a person to change because of the time spent there. Nonetheless, this is a rough lesson to learn, and it can be a lesson avoided by focusing on the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
There are many avenues I would love to walk; defending the wrongfully accused, advocating for children and families with disabilities, reducing juvenile delinquency, and aiming to support communities that are at a systematic disadvantage, but all in all, my Spring at OJD will provide me with the stepping grounds to gain so much knowledge on so many things, and the opportunity to work with attorneys who are seasoned in the legal field.