09/15/2026
Four Alabama Law students spent this summer inside the justice system, from a state prosecutor's office to the defense of clients facing the death penalty. Brad Frank, Sam Hinson, Drake Jones, and Nicholas Thoma served in the public interest as 2026 John Paul Stevens Foundation Fellows.
In their own words:
Brad Frank (2L): “Few experiences during law school have shaped my legal journey as much as my summer clerkship with the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia.”
Sam Hinson (1L): “This summer, I was exposed to a system of incarceration that for most, including myself, is fortunately never seen, but for an unfortunate population, one they see too often.”
Drake Jones (1L): “Working with the Federal Defender's Office helped me to realize that this type of work is what I would like to do after graduating …”
Nicholas Thoma (2L): “It was an honor to be a Stevens Fellow and be able to represent an indigent client in a capital case.”
The John Paul Stevens Foundation Fellowship funds law students to take on this kind of work early, when it can shape a career. We're proud of how these four spent their summer, and of the lawyers they're becoming.
