2025 Oxholm Fellows Deaven Ross and Josh Ventura completed internships in Philadelphia’s Law Department over the summer.

For 18 years, the Carl “Tobey” Oxholm III Summer Fellowship has given Drexel University Kline School of Law students firsthand training in local government lawyering. The fellowship combines a stipend with an internship in Philadelphia’s Law Department, the city’s full-service law office. With more than 600 attorneys across various divisions—including civil rights, child welfare, contracts, labor and torts—the department handles cases that affect housing, schools and public safety throughout the city.

Funded by a gift from Carl “Tobey” Oxholm III, JD, MPP, a former senior vice president and general counsel of Drexel University, the program makes it possible for students to spend a summer practicing law under supervision inside city government.

This year’s Oxholm Fellows were Deaven Ross in the Child Welfare Unit and Josh Ventura in the Civil Rights Unit. Their assignments differed, but both revealed how city lawyers shape decisions that affect Philadelphians every day.

Advocating for Children and Families

Deaven Ross came to law school with a clear interest in family law, shaped by her own journey as a single mother and by volunteering at the Philadelphia Family Court Help Desk. Those experiences showed her how overwhelming the system can feel for families and inspired her to follow a path where the stakes are deeply personal.

In the Law Department’s Child Welfare Unit, she prepared files, researched case law and introduced evidence in court. It was a task she was proud to handle, having practiced the skill in her Evidence class. She also watched attorneys negotiate with parents and social workers before cases reached the judge, seeing how much progress happens outside the spotlight.

One truancy hearing stood out for Ross. A child’s repeated lateness had been logged as absences, triggering a truancy petition. The family spoke little English, and the notices sent home weren’t clear to them. What appeared to be neglect was, in fact, a matter of translation and timing. With a translator present, Ross helped clarify the misunderstanding and saw how quickly a minor issue could escalate into a court case. The experience reinforced for her that the law is not just about rules but about people. “You must be human first. Advocacy means patience and compassion,” she reflected.

Holding The Line In Civil Rights Cases

Josh Ventura grew up in North Philadelphia, where he saw how communities wrestle with inequities. Before law school, he spent years as a music entrepreneur, creating spaces where young people could be heard. That same drive to ensure voices were heard fueled his legal work, first at the Defender Association of Philadelphia and later through his fellowship.

In the Civil Rights Unit, he worked on cases involving excessive force, wrongful prosecution and due process—many of which began as criminal matters before evolving into civil rights suits. He drafted motions, reviewed discovery and observed federal jury trials. A highlight was preparing a motion to dismiss in an excessive force case. “It was the first time I had ownership of a litigation project from start to finish. It sharpened my legal writing and gave me a direct role in shaping the outcome.”

The fellowship also broadened his perspective on public service. Watching a federal jury trial unfold left a strong impression, making clear how constitutional issues move from abstract principles to real decisions that affect lives. “When people think of public interest, they usually think of prosecutors or defenders,” Ventura noted. “But the attorneys in the Law Department keep the city moving.”

Mentorship and Growth

Ross admired how attorneys in the Child Welfare Unit balanced rigorous casework with compassion for families in crisis. “They showed me that advocacy isn’t just paperwork. It’s patience and collaboration.” She also appreciated watching how seasoned lawyers managed relationships with judges, clerks and opposing counsel while keeping children’s needs front and center. Seeing how they built trust with families, even in difficult circumstances, gave her a model for the lawyer she aspires to become.

Ventura worked closely with Desjeneé Davis, his supervisor in the Civil Rights Unit, a Drexel Kline graduate and former Oxholm Fellow who is now a Deputy City Solicitor. Weekly check-ins and detailed feedback on his writing helped him understand how civil rights cases move through each stage of litigation. “I always felt like my input was valued,” he said. Learning from someone who once stood in his shoes underscored how past fellows continue to shape the program’s legacy.

Why the Fellowship Matters

“Through Tobey Oxholm III’s continued generosity, Drexel Kline Law students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with litigation, transactions, compliance or social service matters that impact the lives of people in Philadelphia every day,” said City Solicitor Renee Garcia, Philadelphia’s chief legal officer. “The students selected for the Oxholm Fellowship are truly outstanding individuals with a powerful desire to advance equity in their legal careers. The impact these students make on our department is evident each summer, and we’re always inspired by their learning spirit, desire to create meaningful change and the perspective they provide as students in an ever-changing legal landscape.”

For Ross, the stipend made that access possible. “As a single mom, I wouldn’t have been able to immerse myself in this work without the fellowship,” she explained. The fellowship gave her the freedom to dedicate herself fully to her internship, rather than balancing outside jobs.

Ventura valued the chance to step into a specialized field. “Civil rights is a niche area,” he observed. “This gave me the opportunity to work in an area I might not have been able to experience otherwise, and it affirmed my interest in pursuing it further.”

Asked to sum up their fellowships, Ross called hers “a beginning.” Ventura chose one word: “impactful.”