Sarita Matheson had always been interested in biology, so much so that when she earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she was recognized for having the best senior thesis.
But Matheson has also been long interested in the law, especially watching her parents struggle with the rules of a new country after immigrating to the U.S. from India. “There’s something about being a voice for those individuals,” said Matheson. “Aside from science, there’s a part of me that wanted to go to law school to bridge that gap.”
Fortunately, the Illinois native found a dual degree program at the University of Minnesota that allowed her to earn a master’s in molecular, cellular, developmental biology and genetics, followed by a law degree. Having moved to Minnesota for the program, Matheson then remained after graduation in 2014 to be an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps legal fellow with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.
There, she represented minors in immigration court at a time when there was a flux of unaccompanied minors crossing the border. The challenge for attorneys like Matheson on those cases was the need to navigate both federal immigration courts and state family courts. “That was one of the most meaningful opportunities I’ve had,” she added. “They were very scared to go home, having come from violent communities. And they just wanted to learn and go to school. It was meaningful to help them.”
Since her fellowship, Matheson has...
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