Service above self

As a lawyer based in North Carolina representing survivors of sex and labor trafficking across the country, Sarah Dohoney Byrne, JD ’03 leads Moore & Van Allen PLLC’s Human Trafficking Prevention and Compliance Practice. A founder of the firm’s Human Trafficking Pro Bono Project and co-leader of the National Survivor Law Collective, Ms. Byrne has had a meaningful impact on systems-change and legislation related to post-conviction relief and credit repair for trafficking victims after exploitation. We asked her about her career and the inspiration she drew from attending Suffolk Law. 

What led you to the law, and to representing survivors of trafficking in particular?

SDB: Service above self has been a lifelong value of mine. A legal career seemed like an effective way to make a positive impact – both on individuals and systems. What started as a pro bono practice “on the side” turned into my life’s work.

Issues around gender inequality and gendered violence have persistently called out to me. When I learned about human trafficking and sexual exploitation, I knew I had found my pro bono passion. 

What has made this so fulfilling is that every day it feels like uncharted territory. I know of no other program like my firm’s Human Trafficking Pro Bono Project and I have realized that trafficking survivors have historically been misunderstood and unrepresented. We shaped the Project to meet their distinct and significant legal needs, which required great innovation. My firm’s banking and finance practice perfectly positioned us to go beyond providing legal remedy to survivors and also raise awareness about the intersection of human trafficking and the financial sector. The most rewarding part of my practice is that on a daily basis I get to both support individual survivors and collaborate with large financial institutions or governmental agencies to advance the fight against trafficking.  The micro-work for survivors inspires and informs the macro-work with organizations.   

In what ways do you feel that Suffolk University Law School [SULS] prepared you for the challenges of your career?

SDB: SULS, like no other law school, inspires work in public interest law and provides highly technical training so graduates can hit the ground running. I was a Suffolk Public Interest Law Group recipient and will remain a lifelong donor because SULS promotes legal careers that advance access to justice.  

Might you have any advice for students attending Suffolk Law today?

SDB: Soak it all up. Law students tend to allow the pressures to perform overshadow the joy of being a student, studying the law, and developing relationships. I never could have imagined [the directions in which] my career has taken me. Let it unfold by making decisions that feel right and consistent with your values, and you’ll land where you’re supposed to be.  

Why do you give to Suffolk? What are your hopes for SULS?

SDB: I give to SULS in order to “give back.”  SULS was the start of rewarding career that impacts a lot of crime victims deserving advocacy. My hope in giving is that other graduates can experience the same.