Recent Pitt Law Graduate Brooke Christy (JD ’23) was recently announced as a member of the Equal Justice Works 2023 class of Equal Justice Works Fellows. Brooke is one of 76 public interest lawyers who will spend the next two years advancing access to justice for underserved and underresourced communities across the US. Christy will provide direct representation to tenants experiencing lead exposure while collaborating with community organizations dedicated to the prevention and remediation of lead exposure within the Appalachian Basin.
Building upon the relationships that Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services has established within Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, Brooke will partner with community organizations to support their advocacy and outreach efforts. Brooke will engage in cross-jurisdictional analysis and develop Know Your Rights guides for lead exposure focusing on landlord-tenant relations. In addition to offering direct representation, Brooke will develop a public guide to mitigate the barriers facing attorneys in accepting pro-bono lead exposure claims and advocate for increased capacity of these services in the region.
“As someone with generational roots in the Appalachian Basin, I look forward to combining my community organizing experience and legal education to foster equal access to environmental justice,” Christy said.