BENJAMIN LAGOS (HE/HIM/ÉL)

DCALF FELLOW AND ASSOCIATE

Benjamin Lagos joined DC Affordable Law Firm as a member of the class of 2026-2027 Signature LL.M. Fellowship Program. He is excited to provide legal support—in English and Spanish—to the members of his community who need it most.

Benjamin graduated from the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law magna cum laude in 2025, after which he clerked for Associate Judge Robert Okun of the D.C. Superior Court for a six-month term. At UDC Law, Benjamin focused on issues related to criminal justice reform and movement lawyering. He was a proud inaugural member of the UDC Post-Conviction Criminal Defense Clinic, where he gained valuable experience representing and advocating alongside clients facing insurmountable odds. During law school, Benjamin also ran a community-led, “third-space” martial arts club that continues to hold regular Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) classes, as well as self-defense workshops and organizer gatherings. Very much in line with this ethos, Benjamin looks forward to honing his legal skills at DCALF to better defend those facing debilitating legal challenges.

Before law school, Benjamin attended Temple University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies with minors in Spanish and Fine Arts. As a first-generation American born and raised in Washington, D.C., Benjamin has a deep understanding of the day-to-day challenges his neighbors face. He is determined to use this knowledge to tell his future clients’ stories in an empowering and dignified manner.