Paola Salazar
Undergraduate Intern
Paola is a rising junior at the University of Notre Dame, expecting to graduate in May 2028 with a major in Political Science and minors in Civil and Human Rights and Latino Studies. She is interested in interning at CLI because of its dedication to serving the community and fostering greater legal awareness. Her long-term goal is to become a public defender, and the opportunity to work within a legal nonprofit would provide valuable insight into how legal aid organizations operate while allowing me to grow professionally as an undergraduate student.
She has always been passionate about social justice and advocacy. This past semester, she worked in a Mass Incarceration Research Lab, where she researched effective methods for encouraging civic participation among incarcerated individuals and improving job placement opportunities for formerly incarcerated people. Through this experience, she developed a deeper understanding of the systemic barriers many individuals face within the criminal justice system and the importance of accessible legal and community support.
In addition, she has volunteered with One More Citizen, a nonprofit organization in South Bend that helps individuals prepare for the U.S. citizenship exam. As a volunteer, she assists participants in studying the required material and supports them throughout the naturalization process so they can succeed with confidence. This experience strengthened her commitment to public service and reinforced the importance of empowering underserved communities through education and advocacy. That is why she is excited about the opportunity to work in the Immigration Law Clinic, as it directly connects to the volunteer work she has done in the past and would allow her to combine her personal experiences with meaningful legal advocacy.
A fun fact about her is that although she was born in California, she has never actually lived there. Her parents lived in Mexico before she was born, and when she was seven years old, her family moved to Indiana, where she has lived ever since.