READY TO GIVE BACK

GCC alumna says she's happy to be providing legal counseling to her community.

By Max Zimbert
Published: Last Updated Friday, December 18, 2009 10:12 PM PST

GLENDALE - A California Supreme Court Justice presided over a swearing-in ceremony Friday afternoon, providing Alina Azizian added laurels to her extensive Glendale resume.

Azizian became the first Armenian American fellow at Neighborhood Legal Services, a nonprofit that provides counsel for low-income communities across Los Angeles County. Her position, based in Glendale, will get her deeper into the largest Armenian community outside of the Republic of Armenia.

"When people ask me why I'm here, that's my big thing; I'm happy to be here and give back to the community because this is my hometown," she said.

"[The position] is sort of a vote of confidence and a payoff for all of my commitment and dedication to the community."

Azizian, 26, graduated from Glendale High School, Glendale Community College and earned University Distinction at UC Berkeley.

She joined the International Law Journal at Boston University School of Law and interned at Neighborhood Legal Services in Massachusetts.

"I wish she would come and work here with me," said Armond Gorgorian, who worked with Azizian when she was a young volunteer at an Armenian athletics and scouts group, and later when she was executive director of the Armenian National Committee. "She's a very determined person. If she wants to do something, she doesn't stop until she gets it."

The two-year fellowship, named for retired federal Judge Dickran Tevrizian, was designed for recent law school graduates who are dedicated to helping others, said Neighborhood Legal Services executive director Neal Dudovitz.

"The recognition for her is really recognition for the fellowship and the importance of legal assistance in the community and helping people," he said. "It's an opportunity for people to know about her availability and her presence here, and for people to really understand that Neighborhood Legal Services is putting a special effort and legal attention to this community because we believe they have a large amount of unmet legal needs."

Azizian will handle case work, as well as community outreach and policy advocacy, at all levels of government.

"It's not easy," Dudovitz said. "The biggest challenge is going to be able to prioritize, and identify those legal needs that need to be addressed first, and then marshal the resources to do that."

Neighborhood Legal Services, which consists of 50 lawyers, mainly works to provide immigrant clients with access to health care, education, fair employment, affordable housing and economic development.

"If you're an immigrant, you don't always realize you have tenants' rights in situations with a landlord," Azizian said.

Relieving concerns and making a difference drew Azizian, a self-described apathetic teenager, into public interest law.

"No matter how big or how small, when you can help someone, whether it's a $200 overpayment that you help them appeal, to us it might not seem like a lot, but to that person, that might be a month of groceries," she said. "To see how grateful they are and relieved they are is incredibly rewarding, and is something I don't think you get in other practices of law."