For decades our city has struggled to recruit and keep talented young El Pasoans who graduate from law school or medical school. This phenomenon, commonly known as "brain drain," has impacted negatively our community by restricting resident's access to justice and healthcare.
El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez believes that one of the most effective ways to motivate young talented El Pasoans to return to our city after finishing law school, is giving them the opportunity to put into practice their legal skills to help individuals in need through an internship with the El Paso County Attorney's Office.
"By giving them the opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone in need, I expect them to realize how much our community needs them and hopefully they will feel obligated to return to El Paso to improve our community," explained El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez.
With that idea in mind, every year the El Paso County Attorney's Office opens its doors to talented students to apply their knowledge as law clerk interns.
This summer the El Paso County Attorney's Office received invaluable support of 4 bright students: Ashley Martínez, from Texas Tech University School of Law; Edward Moreno, from Texas Southern University- Thurgood Marshall School of Law; José M. Rocha, from the University of Dayton School of Law; and Linda Corchado, who will be attending the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law this fall.
Ashley Martínez, who is a third year law student, has been collaborating with the Assistant County Attorneys in charge of major civil litigation
Edward Moreno has been assisting the County Attorney's Office with discovery work on a gang injunction filed by the County of El Paso against 20 alleged members of the Bloods street gang.
José M. Rocha, who is a third year law student, has been presenting -and winning- cases in El Paso family courts this summer defending victims of domestic violence and abuse.
"It is an honor to be able to serve my community and hone my legal skills in the city that I plan to return to" said José M. Rocha, whose ties to public service include working for Senator Eliot Shapleigh, Representative Paul C. Moreno and Judge Alex Gonzalez of El Paso, Representative Rick Noriega of Houston, and Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon, UK.
Finally, Linda Corchado, who will be attending the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law this fall in New York, assisted by providing legal analysis and research related to proposed legislation. Ms. Corchado has also been doing research regarding the Criminal Alien Program by which the Federal Government reimburses El Paso County for housing alien federal criminals in the county jail.
El Paso County Attorney José R. Rodríguez has expressed his satisfaction that these 4 local talented students have expressed strong intentions to come back to El Paso after finishing law school.
"They all know now how much our community needs their talent, and they have expressed interest in coming back to El Paso upon completion of their studies," Rodríguez said.
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Brain Drain Press Release.pdf