Recent graduate Chaula Shukla '13 has been named the Barry A. Gold Health Law Fellow at Albany Law School. She will spend the next year in the Health Law Clinic, working directly with clients, as well as managing students and community education efforts.

"The Clinic experience was one of the most fulfilling parts of my law school tenure, so I was very excited about this position," said Shukla, who spent a semester working on several client cases in the Family Violence Litigation Clinic.

Before attending Albany Law School, Shukla spent three years as a social worker, helping people with substance abuse issues and working in a hospital, where she aided elderly patients in navigating their medical and insurance issues.

During law school, Shukla interned at Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, The Legal Project, and a law firm in Westchester County. She served as secretary of the Black Law Students Association and as student advisor to the faculty diversity committee.

“I’ve always been really interested in social justice,” Shukla said. “As an attorney, I am now in a better position to help more people who are underserved and underrepresented.”

Established in 1992, the Health Law Clinic provides legal services to families, as well as individuals who have legal issues stemming from HIV/AIDS or cancer. The clinic, directed by Professor Joe Connors, is staffed by experienced advocates such as Shukla, and by second- and third-year student interns.

The Barry Gold '70 Health Law Clinical Program, established by Gold's widow and children, provides for the hiring of a fellow responsible for representing clients with cancer or other chronic medical conditions and providing training on legal rights for clients/patients, advocates, health care staff, physicians and related professionals, as well as law and medical students.