Tulane Law Grad Wyatt Beaver Wins Prestigious Equal Justice Works Fellowship

Wyatt Beaver (L ’25) has been awarded the Equal Justice Works Design-Your-Own Fellowship, a nationally competitive opportunity that supports public interest attorneys launching innovative legal projects. This year, only about 80 fellowships were awarded nationwide, making it one of the most prestigious public interest fellowships available. Tulane Law has a strong history of success with Equal Justice Works fellowships, with a number of students receiving these awards in recent years.

His two-year fellowship, hosted by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) in San Antonio, will focus on providing legal services to low-income seniors facing housing instability and barriers to essential public benefits. Beaver’s project aims to address the challenges many older adults face when trying to secure safe housing or access benefits like Social Security, SNAP, and Medicare.  

“Too often, low-income seniors are faced with a choice between public housing and homelessness,” said the brand-new Tulane Law graduate. “When they can afford housing, they are often exposed to predatory practices, poor maintenance that threatens their health, and a litany of other problems that degrade their quality of life.”

The issue is deeply personal for Beaver, who was raised by his grandparents in rural South-Central Texas. He recalls how they often felt overwhelmed by rapidly changing technology and institutions.  

“I feel a calling to assist elderly individuals who lack access to the economic resources, education, and assistance to navigate legal and institutional challenges that threaten their quality of life,” he said.

Beaver developed the fellowship proposal while working at TRLA’s Austin office during his second summer of law school. There, he noticed recurring legal challenges facing elderly clients and began crafting a comprehensive approach with support from TRLA attorneys, former EJW fellows, and mentors, particularly Professor Jane Maslow Cohen of the University of Texas, who has been a longtime advisor.

Reflecting on his time at Tulane Law, Beaver is unequivocal: “No notes,” he said. “Tulane couldn’t be a better place to prepare for a career in legal service.” He credits the faculty, particularly Professors Clara Potter and Laila Hlass, and career counselor Robin Dunford for helping him prepare for the rigorous fellowship application process and interview. Their guidance, along with the support of Tulane’s public interest community, played a key role in shaping his path.

Beaver hopes the project will become a model that other legal aid organizations can replicate. “Texas isn’t the only place where seniors are suffering without support,” he said. He will present his findings and project framework at the Southern Poverty Law Conference in hopes of inspiring broader adoption.

As he looks ahead to the start of his fellowship, Beaver says what excites him most is the chance to serve his first client as a practicing attorney.  

“I hope to provide a level of service that leaves them feeling that justice is not as unattainable as it sometimes seems.” It’s a goal that reflects his broader vision: a legal career rooted in service, driven by gratitude, and committed to the promise of equal justice for all.