SARAH RAYES, J.D.
ad4692@r.postjobfree.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-rayes/
EDUCATION
The University of Iowa College of Law Iowa City, IA Juris Doctorate May 2023
Sitting for Bar Exam July 2024
Activities: Secretary for the Black Law Students’ Association, Research Assistant for International and Comparative Law Programs, and Student Representative for LexisNexis The University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
Bachelor of Arts, English Dec 2019
Philosophy Minor; Human Rights Certificate
WORK EXPERIENCE
Political Asylum Lawyers Houston, TX
Immigration Professional Oct 2023 - April 2024
Conducted research and composed legal briefs for immigration cases
Facilitated client communication to gather information and provide updates on case progress
Prepared various immigration forms, petitions, and applications on behalf of clients General Electric International Inc. Dubai, U.A.E.
2L Summer Associate Jun 2022 – Aug 2022
Researched and evaluated different risk factors regarding business decisions
Assisted in negotiations with external parties
Contributed to managing legal structures, due diligence, and documentation for corporate development activity
Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson Portland, ME
1L Summer Associate Jun 2021 – Aug 2021
Worked in the following practice groups: Bankruptcy, Litigation, Real Estate, Labor and Employment, Business Law, and Energy and Environmental Law The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights Iowa City, IA Intern Jan 2019 – Dec 2019
Led and organized an event on the role of art in mobilizing the Sudanese Revolution
Generated a report on Immigrant Rights in the state of Iowa
Assisted with planning for the Iowa Network of Human Rights Academics undergraduate research conference
Conducted interviews with recent asylum seekers and drafted a report for use in the Universal Periodical Reporting process
Wrote grant applications for state, federal, and private funding mechanisms for start-up non-profit organizations
Steak ‘n Shake Iowa City, IA
Waitress March 2019 – July 2020
Panera Bread Iowa City, IA
Customer Service Associate August 2017 – Jan 2019
The Java House Iowa City, IA
Barista Sep 2016 – May 2017
VOLUNTEER AND EXTRA-CURRICULARS
Food Bank Iowa City, IA Sep 2019 – March 2023
Volunteer; Prepared food bags and maintained orderliness of Food Bank area Foreign Relations Council Iowa City, IA April 2019 Guest Speaker; Presented and answered questions on political developments in Sudan Human Rights Research Conference at Iowa Law School Iowa City, IA March 2019 Presenter; Proposal on the topic “The Sudanese Revolution” accepted for presentation Hawkeye Service Team Memphis, TN March 2019
Student Volunteer; Spring break service trip to Memphis TN focused on racial justice Participant in Liberal Art Beyond Bars Program Iowa City, IA Sep 2018 – Nov 2018 Studied alongside inmates through a college-in-prison program that enabled incarcerated people to gain college credit while serving their sentence Shelter House Iowa City, IA Jan 2016 – Aug 2018
Volunteer; Served as an interpreter to Shelter House residents (English – Arabic), received and recorded donations, and prepared goods for distribution The Life Stories Project Iowa City, IA Aug 2015 – Dec 2015 Conducted weekly interviews throughout Fall 2015 with a Senior Center resident and by the end of the academic semester I produced a book that recounted and documented their life story FOREIGN LANGUAGE
English – Native Proficiency
Arabic – Native Proficiency
Performed various translations and interpretation duties including written documents and live-speaking presentations
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Photography – Arabic calligraphy – Travel – Swimming