Our Interview with Deepali Gill-Conley, Legal Casework Manager at Sikh Coalition

Deepali Gill-Conley serves as a Legal Case Manager at Sikh Coalition.

What are some of the biggest legal issues aspiring lawyers should understand today, particularly around religious discrimination, employment rights, and access to justice?

One of the most important things aspiring lawyers should understand is that laws, policies, and legal protections are constantly evolving in response to shifting political, social, and judicial landscapes. Attorneys must be prepared to adapt and develop creative strategies to meet the needs of their clients. In the context of religious discrimination, employment rights, and access to justice, one persistent challenge is having to go beyond the law itself to explain why a particular religious article of faith, practice, or accommodation is significant to the individual seeking protection. This requires attorneys to understand not only the applicable legal framework but also the cultural and religious context underlying their clients’ experiences. Knowing the law is essential, but understanding the people you represent and being able to effectively communicate their experiences, is often what makes the difference in advocacy.

For law students and aspiring attorneys who want to work on civil rights and religious-liberty issues, what areas of law and practical skills would you recommend they focus on?

I would encourage law students and aspiring attorneys to develop a strong foundation in constitutional law, employment law, civil rights law, and federal civil procedure. Depending on their interests, it is also valuable to understand administrative law, statutory interpretation, and the legal frameworks governing religious accommodations and protections, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Beyond substantive legal knowledge, strong advocacy requires compassion, confidence, adaptability, and the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, accessible language. Attorneys must be able to communicate effectively not only with clients, who may be navigating the legal system for the first time, but also with opposing counsel.

 What do you wish more law students and legal professionals understood about the legal challenges around religion, and where can attorneys have the greatest impact?

I wish more law students and legal professionals understood that religious freedom is not inherently a conservative issue, nor is advocacy for religious liberty limited to any particular political ideology. Religious discrimination can affect individuals and communities across the political spectrum, and protecting the right to practice one’s faith is fundamentally about ensuring that people are treated fairly and that their rights are respected. Attorneys can have the greatest impact by developing subject-matter expertise and recognizing that effective advocacy must extend beyond individual cases to systemic change. For example, we may work with incarcerated individuals who face barriers to practicing their religion. While we can advocate for each client individually, addressing the underlying policies and practices within a correctional facility can prevent similar violations from occurring in the future.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in public-interest or civil-rights law, and what are some ways law students can gain meaningful experience in this area? 

My advice to anyone considering a career in public-interest or civil-rights law is to lead with compassion while learning to establish healthy boundaries between your professional responsibilities and personal life. This work can be deeply meaningful, but it can also be emotionally demanding. Attorneys often carry the weight of their clients’ experiences long after the workday ends, making it essential to prioritize personal well-being, recognize how far you have come, and make time to recharge. For law students seeking meaningful experience, I strongly recommend pursuing internships and externships with civil rights organizations, public-interest law firms, and legal aid providers. These opportunities allow students to move beyond the classroom and gain firsthand exposure to client advocacy, legal research and writing, case development, and the day-to-day realities of public-interest practice. Practical experience helps students understand the responsibility that comes with advocating for individuals and communities whose rights may otherwise go unprotected.

Deepali Gill-Conley was interviewed by Arush Chandna, the co-founder of Juris Education, a law school admissions consulting company.