August 2008- The Sylvia Rivera Law Project has announced an innovative name change clinic that will serve trans and gender non conforming prisoners in need of acquiring legal name changes. The clinic will the be the first of its kind and will be a joint venture with Orrick, Herrington, and Sutcliffe L.L.P, an international law firm that was ranked seventh inthe July ’08 American Lawyer’s A-List. As the project grows, we will likely be seeking additional law firm partners. “We have had a lot of demand for a project like this one,” stated SRLP staff attorney Gabriel Arkles,
“We believe every one of our clients has the right to express their gender…including those who are incarcerated.
Getting a name change while in prison can also make getting a job, benefits, and housing much easier for people once they are released.” He went on to say, “We’re delighted to have found a law firm willing to make this commitment to civil rights.” The clinic has already begun with representation of three clients.
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