Monique graduated from law school in 2003. Instead of getting a job paying over $100,000 a year, she decided to start a non-profit organization, called RespectMyRights! This consumer rights organization helps people, many of whom come from underserved communities, resolve their consumer complaints.

With the knowledge she gained in law school, Monique uses her consumer rights organization to write letters-of-complaint and direct follow-up phone calls to help clients protect their consumer rights. Monique’s organization provides underserved communities valuable legal service, since she only charges clients $19.00 per case. Her work helps achieve equality in consumer rights, since most lawyers charge over $100 an hour for such services.

Monique also encourages her peers in the legal profession to donate their services, which helps provide more people with greater access to legal aid when they need it. This also helps lawyers to understand that there are a lot of people out there who need legal services but often can't afford for them.

Monique was very determined to use her professional skills to start an organization on behalf of the less affluent. Many of her fellow lawyers told her not to do so, since she wouldn't make a lot of money. But Monique felt a responsibility to use her education and abilities to provide greater access to legal services. Monique used all of her personal savings to start the organization. She has no regrets, since her organization–– RespectMyRights!––has extended legal services to a lot of people who have needed an attorney but otherwise might not have been able to afford one.

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