Living and working in a battered women's shelter in Chicago was a turning point in Danielle Briand's life. There, she met Lupe and her 8-year old son, Pancho. Lupe had moved to the U.S. with her husband and suffered repeated beatings at his hand. She desperately wanted to improve her situation.

For several months, Briand tutored Lupe in English--an arduous task considering the fact that Lupe was nearly illiterate in her native Spanish. "What impressed me was her level of commitment. She knew that her son would have a better life in the U.S. and was determined to give him that chance," Briand said.

During the next few years, Briand helped several women like Lupe, undocumented immigrants whose plight reinforced her commitment to social work and eventually inspired her to pursue a career in immigration law. Now a third-year student, she intends to use her law degree to fight for basic human rights.

Before embarking on her legal studies, Briand spent six years studying and working in the field of anthropology, earning her BA from Yale University and her MA from the University of Oregon. Her goal is help improve the lives of immigrants and refugees. Many end up in resettlement agencies such as Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven, where Briand works as a volunteer.

IRIS assists individuals who apply for green cards, work visas or citizenship. To Briand, helping them is a natural extension of her training in anthropology. "My orientation is not just to be a lawyer; it's more about impacting my local community and the global community."

Briand notes that immigration law is an area prone to abuse and corruption. She believes a lawyer needs to have integrity, as well as understanding and compassion. "It's important to develop a reputation as an honest, hardworking individual," she said.

Illegal immigration in the U.S. has become an especially divisive issue--a problem Briand attributes to the government's failure to manage an increasing demand for migrant labor. Having worked directly with many of these individuals, she has witnessed first-hand their self-sacrifice and dedication.

"To correct this social problem, we must reevaluate our immigration policy to accommodate the labor demand and thereby create a more equitable situation for millions of people," she said.

One thing Briand recognized while working in Chicago was "how the lawyers really cared about their clients and worked hard to explain the legal process. Those who are interested only in making money do a disservice to their clients."