At Women for Afghan Women, legal advocacy is about more than navigating forms, deadlines, and legal procedures. It is about meeting clients with care, cultural understanding, and compassion.
This summer, legal interns Sa’ad Farah and Katherine Ranjbar have brought that approach to their work, while gaining firsthand insight into what access to justice looks like in practice. We spoke with them about what drew them to WAW, what they have learned, and the lessons they will carry into their futures.
Q: What drew you to intern with Women for Afghan Women?
For Sa’ad, WAW was already familiar. His mother, Saima Mohammad, is WAW’s Program Director, so conversations about her work at home inspired him to become involved himself.
Katherine was drawn by the opportunity to connect her interests in law and international affairs with practical, people-centered work.
“I wanted to help people in a concrete way,” she said. “I hoped not only to hear others’ stories, but also to take action.”
Q: What surprised you most about WAW’s work?
Both interns were struck by how immediate and meaningful their contributions could be.
Sa’ad saw the lasting impact of WAW’s work in clients’ lives and in the relationships that continue after a case milestone. “People that we help apply for citizenship continue to be a part of our lives and foster a surprisingly close connection,” he said.
Katherine was surprised by the responsibility she was entrusted with as an intern. “I wasn’t just organizing files and doing ‘made-up work,’ but actually helping someone’s case progress,” she shared. “It’s fulfilling to know that my work serves a real purpose.”
Q: How has this experience shaped the way you think about the law?
While assisting with ICE proceedings, Sa’ad gained a deeper appreciation for the caution required when working with sensitive information—and for the difficulty of advocacy when clients are navigating an intimidating system.
Katherine’s experience drafting a legal brief gave her a new perspective on the precision and structure behind legal work. At first overwhelmed by its repetition, she came to understand how every element supports an argument. “For the first time, I think I grasped the meaning of the term ‘burden,’” she said.
Q: What lesson will you carry into your future legal career?
For Sa’ad, the answer is care: both in handling legal matters and in building relationships with clients.
“I will carry with me the level of caution and care in my work from WAW to my future legal career,” he said.
Katherine reflected on the importance of pursuing justice beyond technical rules alone:
“It’s not always about the letter of the law, but also the spirit of the law.”
Q: What does effective legal advocacy look like?
Working with clients whose legal needs can overlap with language, culture, immigration, and trauma has shown both interns that legal knowledge alone is not enough.
“You have to be understanding of people’s situations and meet their needs,” Sa’ad said. “You also have to develop strong social skills and kindness and compassion for your clientele.”
Katherine emphasized that attorneys need a baseline understanding of clients’ backgrounds to communicate effectively and help guide them through the U.S. legal system.
Q: What challenges helped you grow?
For Sa’ad, language barriers sometimes made even simple tasks more complex. He learned to use available resources, seek interpretation support, and collaborate with colleagues when needed.
Katherine’s challenge was adapting to digital legal work. Although she initially found forms and technology frustrating, she has grown more comfortable navigating online systems and recognizes the advantages they offer.
Q: What would you tell future WAW legal interns?
Both have the same advice: stay open to learning and ask for help.
“Don’t be intimidated by the workload,” Sa’ad said. “Staff is very accommodating and will be happy to teach you anything you’re not comfortable with.”
Katherine added: “Expect to learn a lot as you go—but when in doubt, ask for examples.”
WAW is grateful to Sa’ad and Katherine for the care, thoughtfulness, and dedication they bring to their work. Their experiences are a reminder that meaningful legal advocacy begins with listening, learning, and showing up for clients with compassion.
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