Mezera is championing health care justice at TJC, continuing his journey of advocacy from mission work to legal practice
Belmont Law alumnus Josiah Mezera is hitting the ground running as the inaugural Speer Fellow at the Tennessee Justice Center. The fellowship was made possible by a $260,000 grant from the Speer Foundation for Belmont's College of Law to establish a healthcare justice clinic at TJC. The Speer Fellow be funded by the grant for two-years in conjunction with the healthcare justice clinic. Mezera learned about the Speer Fellowship through Belmont Law's extensive network.
"The advantages of being a Belmont student is that you have a faculty and alumni base who are integrally connected to the legal space in Nashville," said Mezera, who graduated this past May.
Associate Dean Deborah Farringer serves as the director of health law in Belmont’s College of Law. Farringer played a pivotal role in establishing the Healthcare Justice Clinic at TJC and connecting Mezera with the opportunity to apply.
At TJC, Mezera describes his role as that of a "Swiss army knife" – a versatile position involving everything from case assessment to legal research. His days are filled with reviewing cases related to welfare programs like TennCare, SNAP and WIC, strategizing legal approaches and conducting research for senior attorneys.
"Sometimes it's really simple, sending an email to the relevant agency. Other times, these cases reveal more systemic issues with the welfare programs, and those systemic issues lead to litigation," Mezera explained.
As the Speer Fellow, Mezera is aiding the TJC in its comprehensive work to address individual needs while pushing for broader policy changes.
"We have a policy side to the TJC that is focused on the legislature and trying to convince Tennessee — and the legislature specifically — that the solution to many problems we see in these programs is through legislation," he said.
From Mission Work to Legal Advocacy
Mezera's diverse experiences have prepared him well for his current role in health care advocacy and service.
Before law school, he spent two years as a missionary in the South Pacific with Youth with a Mission. There, as part of a medical compassion team, he supported doctors and nurses providing care to underserved populations. Now, as a Speer Fellow, Mezera applies his legal expertise to continue serving those with health care-related needs. This experience, coupled with his leadership as president of the Health Law Student Association at Belmont, laid the foundation for his current role.
"I have a heart for the most vulnerable people, the voiceless, the people who either don't have the time, the energy or the resources to receive justice," Mezera shared, drawing a clear line from his missionary work to his current legal advocacy.
Mezera also completed the health law certificate program as a Belmont Law student. The program provides participants with specialized health care knowledge, giving them a competitive edge in Nashville's thriving medical ecosystem.
The Impact of Belmont Law
In addition to its robust legal network, Mezera commends Belmont Law for its emphasis on practical experiences gained in the field. Students are encouraged to pursue internships and clerkships during their time in law school. As a student, Mezera interned for a probate court judge in Davidson County and clerked for numerous attorneys in Nashville.
“A lot of the relevant learning that we do as attorneys doesn't necessarily happen in law school as much as it does in the field,” Mezera said. “Belmont Law recognizes that out-of-class experiences are vitally important.”
The school's extensive field placement program leverages Nashville's legal landscape, offering students abundant opportunities to earn academic credit while gaining hands-on experience in live-client situations. The addition of the Healthcare Justice Clinic further expands these real-world learning opportunities, allowing students to make an impact while developing practical legal skills.
Looking Ahead: The Healthcare Justice Clinic
The Healthcare Justice Clinic at TJC aims to give students hands-on experience in health care law, dealing with real clients and current issues. Mezera sees this as an opportunity for students to be at the forefront of emerging health care law challenges.
"The students who participate in that clinic will get one of the most intensive and relevant experiences a student can get while they're in law school," he predicted.
As the first Speer Fellow, Mezera stands at the intersection of legal education and community advocacy. His journey from Belmont Law to the Tennessee Justice Center not only highlights the power of academic-community partnerships but also demonstrates the vital role that passionate, well-prepared legal professionals play in addressing critical health care access issues.
Learn more about Belmont Law and experiential learning opportunities.