To implement the program, the NCBJ has partnered with Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization (JTB).  JTB through its Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project (SJID Project) places law students with federal and state judges around the country for summer internships.  The SJID Project’s selection process includes reviewing applications and conducting one-on-one interviews with prospective externs.  Once the selection process is completed, the SJID Project disseminates the resumes of the successful candidates to participating judges.  The final hiring decision is made by the judges.  Each student who is hired by a judge for the summer is required to attend a special training session provided by the SJID Project which is designed to prepare them for their internship.   

In addition to the summer internship stipends, to further enrich their exposure to the national bankruptcy community, NCBJ Fellows are invited to attend the NCBJ Annual Conference in the Fall of the year of their internship.  To help defray the costs of attending the Annual Conference, the registration fee is waived, and participating Fellows are reimbursed up to $1,000 for the lodging, travel, meals and other approved expenses.  It is worth noting that the success of the NCBJ Fellows program has inspired other organizations such as the American College of Bankruptcy and the International Women Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) to establish similar programs of their own.   The NCBJ Board of Governors approved six stipends for NCBJ Fellows for the 2026 Annual Conference.  

As part of the NCBJ’s 100th Anniversary celebration, we contacted two of the first NCBJ Fellows to learn more about their journeys since the 2021 program.

David Gharkhany

Judge Klein later encouraged him to apply for a clerkship after law school. He did so successfully and clerked for Brian F. Kenney in Alexandria, Virginia. Judge Kenney also became an important mentor, and the two remain in touch.

After completing his clerkship, David joined the law firm Frost Brown Todd in Cincinnati. Following the firm’s merger creating FBT Gibbons, David was able to transfer to the firm’s Denver office in his hometown.

David is the first person in his family to attend college and the first to become a lawyer. He describes bankruptcy practice as “always moving fast” and particularly enjoys the crisis-management aspect of the work. He credits the NCBJ with providing a valuable resource for students who may not yet know which direction to pursue in their legal careers. The organization served as his gateway into bankruptcy practice.

As David explains, the NCBJ alone cannot place someone into the field, but through it he learned how important it is to meet people and build friendships and professional networks. He emphasizes that without the mentorship of Judge Klein, he might never have discovered the opportunities and rewards of a career in bankruptcy.

Alegna Gomez

When she began law school, Alegna had planned to pursue intellectual property or family law. However, through the NCBJ Fellows program and her clerkships, she discovered that bankruptcy offered an exciting opportunity to try cases and develop a broad litigation skill set. As she explains, bankruptcy practice allows lawyers “to develop a holistic skill set—learning how to compromise and resolve disputes.” She also describes bankruptcy as “an umbrella practice,” one that exposes lawyers to many other areas of law—from water and environmental issues to estate matters and even sports-related disputes.

Before clerking, she interned with the Education Rights Branch of Public Counsel, one of the nation’s largest pro bono law firms, and co-wrote a report on water and sanitation programs for the United Nations Development Programme. 

Alegna initially went to law school with the goal of giving back to her community through a practice in family law and an interest in international adoption. She comes from a low-income family and often served as a translator for family members while growing up. These experiences inspired her desire to advocate for her community and help ensure that communities have the information and resources they need to thrive.

Like David, Alegna is also a first-generation law student. She credits the mentorship she received from Judges Johnson and Hammond as invaluable. As she nears the end of her clerkship, she is looking forward to beginning a bankruptcy practice in Los Angeles, where she and her husband have recently returned and are expecting their first child in the coming days.

She is well on her way to making the world a better place—and to becoming an important part of the bankruptcy community. She will find many opportunities to give back to the community.  The NCBJ Fellows program has been a crucial part of that journey, and the organization is fortunate to count her among its alumni.