SW L AW SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL Clinics: Experiential Learning that Serves the Greater Good

Southwestern’s clinics offer unique opportunities for students to learn the art of lawyering while providing vital services to the community

SWLAW.EDU/CLINICS Clinical

Southwestern has long recog- nized that a well-rounded legal education must include both S theoretical instruction and real-world experience—the latter increasingly essential in today’s changing legal landscape. The opportunities to gain hands-on experience at Southwestern are as diverse as the student body itself, since many of the practical-skills programs can be cus- tomized to each student’s interests and goals. These options include expansive clinical and externship programs and an array of practicums that provide training in legal research, brief writing, client rela- tions, negotiation and oral argument. Students who participate in the school’s six clinics—Children’s Rights, Immigration Law, Street Law, Youth Offender Parole Hearing, Appellate Litigation, and Enter- tainment and the Arts—acquire essential legal skills while contributing much-need- ed services to the community. From help- ing a victim of domestic violence obtain legal residency in the United States to representing a homeless youngster facing expulsion from public school on question- able charges, to ensuring that a teenager In the Youth Offender Parole Hearing Clinic, Lindsey who is about to “age out” of the foster care Hay ’16, right, worked with Professor Beth Caldwell, system successfully transitions to adult- left, to give deserving parolees a second chance. hood, Southwestern students regularly perform vital public service. In these pages, SW Law looks at how four of the law school’s clinics continue to make a difference in the world, one client—and one law student—at a time. Perspectives

THE IMMIGRATION her legal status in the United States one-on-one interviews, gathered evi- remained an issue; she had obtained a dence, wrote declarations and learned LAW CLINIC temporary work permit but needed a to explain the law in a client-friendly longer-term plan. manner. osa, a young woman from El Enter Southwestern’s Immigration “The clinic experience is a way Salvador, was just a child when Law Clinic. Started by Professor An- for students to develop across-the- Rshe witnessed a horrific crime: drea Ramos in 2009, the clinic works board lawyering skills,” says Professor the murder of her mother by her with children and adults on a variety Ramos. “They experience the gamut father. Rosa and her two younger of immigration matters, including of professional representation, from siblings lived with their parents in cases involving Special Immigrant interviewing and counseling clients, to South Los Angeles and had seen their Juvenile Status and U Visa cases in conducting investigations and analyz- father become violent before. But on which clients who have been abused, ing cases. By the end of the semester, this day, when their father came into neglected or abandoned, or have been they are practice ready.” About 26 stu- the house drunk and started yelling at victims of a crime are eligible for dents participate in the Immigration their mother, the situation escalated immigration relief. It was this last Law Clinic each year. tragically. He wanted to show off his category that Professor Ramos and her One such student was Tracy McCo- gun and army jacket to his friends, students felt would apply to Rosa. llom Bordignon ’09, who was assigned and became angry when she could not The U Visa regulations had been to work with Rosa on her U Visa. find his jacket. He grabbed her by the published in late 2007 and there Bordignon was a trailblazing student, hair and put the gun to her head. The were gray areas in the definition of a handling the clinic’s first U Visa case. children’s mother cried for him not victim. “I did not know if Rosa would “The clinic was the highlight of law to kill her in front of them. The father be eligible for a U Visa because she school for me,” says Bordignon, who dragged her to their bedroom and shot had been a bystander to a crime, and now works for FTI Consulting in Mi- her. Rosa’s childhood ended that day, the indirect victim category when she lost both her parents. had vague age requirements. At Eventually caught by the police, that time, the indirect victim Rosa’s father was convicted of murder definition had not yet been and sentenced to 20 years to life in tested by advocates, and U.S. prison. Rosa became the mother- Citizenship and Immigration figure for her younger siblings and Service (USCIS) had stated it devoted herself to caring for them. did not anticipate approving a She started working as a teenager, significant number of bystander supporting her siblings over the years, cases,” Professor Ramos says. at one point becoming the guardian of The first time that clinic her younger sister. In the meantime, students worked with Rosa was she graduated high school with honors on her U Visa in 2009; four years and Advanced Placement credits, later, another group of students Professor Andrea Ramos, left, started the but had to put her college plans on worked on her lawful perma- Immigration Law Clinic in 2009 to help hold so she could support her fami- nent residency papers. In both clients like Rosa, right, with a variety of ly, often working two jobs. However, situations, students conducted immigration matters.

SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL 2 Students from the inaugural Immigration Law Clinic class

ing under the new law, an offender must have been convicted 15 to 25 years ago for a crime committed when he or she was under 18. In ad- dition, potential parolees must show evidence of remorse and a commit- ment to making a positive contribu- tion to society. Professor Caldwell launched the clinic in the Fall of 2014, with three students in her class. Each student was assigned a client in a Southern California prison. Lindsey Hay ’16 ami and volunteered with the Florida other victory when Rosa was granted was given the case of Mi Truong Immigrant Advocacy Center. “Rosa her green card in April 2014. Nguyen, a 32-year-old man who had was very strong and well composed, “I will always be grateful to Pro- spent the past 16 years in prison. and was taking care of everyone in her fessor Ramos and her students,” says Raised by hard-working immi- family. She had survived so much and Rosa, who today works full-time as grant Vietnamese parents who had was someone I truly admired. That the store manager for an auto parts little time to supervise their chil- she gave me her trust still means so retailer. “They were always on top of dren, Nguyen made the mistake of much to me today.” it and followed up on everything.” joining a street gang. When he was Bordignon obtained criminal court Professor Ramos observes, “It’s im- 16, he was recruited by other gang records and hearing transcripts for possible not to admire Rosa—for her members to participate in a robbery the murder case against Rosa’s father. strength and resilience, and for not and was handed a gun. They went She interviewed Rosa and wrote her letting a crime define her. I am forever to a sewing factory in El Monte, declaration, which Bordignon recalls grateful for being a part of her life.” California, and demanded money and as the most emotionally demanding jewelry of the 26 people present; no part of the process. “I had to take THE YOUTH one was injured. Though he had no all the details of what happened to violent criminal history before this Rosa,” she says, “and translate them OFFENDER PAROLE offense, he was arrested and sen- for consideration by the immigration HEARING CLINIC tenced to 35 years in prison. authorities.” Bordignon also prepared Hay corresponded with Nguyen Rosa’s waiver application, arguing n 2013, when California passed SB and obtained relevant documenta- that she should be allowed to stay 260, the law establishing a new pa- tion in order to prepare a brief. The in the U.S. because of her strong ties Irole process for offenders who were more she learned, the more she was to the community and the hardship under the age of 18 at the time of their convinced that “Mi Nguyen is exactly she would suffer if she returned to El crime, Professor Beth Caldwell saw the kind of offender that SB 260 Salvador with no family support. The promising clinical opportunities for was designed to address,” she says. application was successful, and Rosa Southwestern students. She thought During his time in prison, Nguyen received her U Visa from the USCIS. they might be able to help these youth learned how to read, earned his G.E.D. “Tracy did a fantastic job,” says offenders get a second chance. and enrolled in college classes. Professor Ramos, who re-introduced “I was excited to work on these In her brief, which she submit- Rosa to a new group of students cases,” Professor Caldwell says, “be- ted to the California Board of Parole three years later, when Rosa was cause I think SB 260 is a positive step Hearings in January 2015, Hay wrote eligible to apply for lawful perma- in the legal arena, and creates new that Nguyen “was an adolescent at nent residency. Led by the efforts of opportunities to counteract many risk who made a series of terrible Ezequiel Gutierrez LL.M ’13 and Erik of the lengthy sentences given to decisions without any thought to the Espinoza ’14, the clinic achieved an- youth.” To qualify for a parole hear-

3 “Here was a person whose life we changed forever. And it was daily lives.” Approximately 25 Southwestern life-changing for me, too, because it students participate in the Street Law Clinic each year. As part of the pro- was something that really mattered.” gram, they visit Children’s Court and Delinquency Court, where they meet —LINDSEY HAY ‘16 lawyers and judges in the field. Many graduates from the clinic who are in- spired by the experience go on to work as attorneys helping families involved consequences. In the subsequent 16 get to see how the law applies in prac- with the Juvenile Court. years of his incarceration, Mi has tice, not just theory.” Williams was assigned to teach a matured emotionally and intellec- In the spring of 2015, Williams small group of high school seniors at tually. He feels deep remorse for participated in the Street Law Clinic, Vista School, on site at Vista Del Mar his youthful mistake and is now an in which students teach law-relat- Child and Family Services. During adult, ready to begin life as a lawful ed life skills to Los Angeles youth, the 10 weeks that she worked with and contributing member of his fam- most of whom are involved in the them, Williams helped the students ily and society.” dependency or delinquency system. understand their legal rights and pro- A month later, the Parole Board Implemented and directed by Profes- vided information relating to housing, agreed to grant Nguyen a parole date. sor Laura Cohen since 2006, the clinic education and employment, including He was released from prison last does not offer client representation; a personalized resource binder for summer and moved to a transition- instead, its mission is to provide each student. The Vista School serves al housing program in Los Angeles. information, resources and tools that children who need support with a Hay remembers being elated when help court-involved youth make a range of cognitive, behavioral and she learned the news. “This was successful transition to adulthood. social challenges. “It worked out well the first time I did anything with a “My students are passionate about real-life application, and the success helping youth and making we had was the icing on the cake,” a difference in our commu- she says. “Here was a person whose nity,” Professor Cohen says. life we changed forever. And it was “As Street Law teachers, they, life-changing for me, too, because it too, come away with a better Street Law Clinic students Nathalie Meza Contreras and Darris Upton- was something that really mattered.” understanding of the law Stuart at the Vista del Mar campus Professor Caldwell agrees. “The ex- and develop skills such as perience students like Lindsay can get the ability to think on their through this clinic—advocating on an feet, while experiencing the offender’s behalf and actually earning satisfaction of having helped someone’s freedom—well, that’s what others know their rights.” being a lawyer is all about.” Nathalie Meza Contre- ras ’17 concurs and adds, “I THE STREET LAW have learned to incorporate activities that are suitable for CLINIC students’ different learning styles. This experience has he fun part of law school is find- also helped me grasp the ing ways to help others,” says concepts that I have been T Ashley Williams ’17, a student learning in my classes in a in Southwestern’s evening program. different way and see the “That’s why the clinics are great. You real-world impact on people’s

SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL 4 Ashley Williams ’17, who grew up in the foster care system, has become a role model for at-risk youth in the Street Law Clinic. “Children are among the most vulnerable people in our society, by being their advocate, we help give them a voice.”

—DEAN JULIE WATERSTONE

for me to teach here because I come to receive an education, and ensur- participated in the clinic under the from the same background as they ing that students who have been supervision of Professor Jenny Rodri- do,” Williams says. This is the tenth subjected to school discipline—such guez-Fee. Brothers, who had experi- year that Southwestern clinic students as suspension or expulsion—know ence in social work before attending have been teaching at Vista. their rights and have representation law school, says that her clinic expe- The Vista del Mar students see the at hearings. rience was invaluable in that it helped Southwestern students as mentors “Children are among the most to demystify what real-world legal who offer empowering guidance and vulnerable people in our society,” practice entails. legal information. “The Street Law Dean Waterstone says. “By being Clinic students make such a differ- their advocate, we help give them ence to our kids,” says Danielle Aran- a voice.” The clinic also helps da-Harris, Assistant Principal of the to stop the “school-to-prison high school. “The law students give pipeline,” which the American Professor Laura Dym Cohen, the our kids confidence in their abilities Civil Liberties Union defines as Director of the Street Law Clinic, is to navigate the world, so that once “the policies and practices that also the Director of the Public Service they leave here, the world is not such a push our nation’s schoolchildren, Program at Southwestern. In addition, scary place.” especially our most at-risk chil- she is involved with the Children’s Law “My Vista students are resilient,” dren, out of classrooms and into Center Year-Long Program and the Los Angeles Incubator Program. Contreras explains. “While they have the juvenile and criminal justice all faced adversity, they continue to be systems.” positive, and I am happy to see they By representing these chil- are hopeful about their futures and dren, law students in the clinic that we can help them take the steps have the opportunity to get needed to accomplish their goals.” hands-on lawyering experience, including interviewing, coun- seling, negotiating, researching, CHILDREN’S RIGHTS writing, oral advocacy and trial CLINIC practice. Some 28 students par- ticipate in the clinic each year, aunched by Associate Dean Julie and each one is assigned to cases Waterstone in 2008, the Chil- that have been carefully vetted L dren’s Rights Clinic gives law by the professors. In addition to students the opportunity to represent the practical skills that students children from birth to age 22 from gain, Dean Waterstone says she low-income families in Los Angeles wants the program to “ignite in county. The clinic focuses on two students a fire for public interest principal areas of children’s rights: law and pro bono work.” helping children with special needs This was certainly the case get the support and access they need with Devan Brothers ’16, who

5 Dean Julie Waterstone (center) launched the Children’s Rights Clinic to provide legal support to children from low-income families.

Brothers and classmate Michael involved with,” says Brothers. “And to Angeles County Office of Education Carwin were assigned to represent recommend expulsion just for doing on his behalf. After mediation and a 14-year-old boy, from a previously something that many teenage kids do settlement talks, K’s record was homeless family, who had been ex- struck us as uncompassionate on the expunged, and he was readmitted to pelled from a high school in Los An- part of the school administrators.” another school in the area, where he geles. The boy (referred to as “K”) was Brothers and Carwin began to is doing well today. charged with initiating a fight with gather the facts. They interviewed K “It felt great to know that this other students during his first week and his parents, read the reports, and one mistake was not going to follow of school; the incident took place after then made an exciting and unexpect- him around forever,” says Brothers, school hours and off campus. ed discovery: The local 7-Eleven had who wants to practice education “There were lots of red flags in captured pivotal moments leading law when she graduates. “His family this case,” says Professor Fee. “First, up to the fight with its surveillance would not have been able to afford an we wanted to find out if the school camera. The law students reviewed attorney, so if clinics like ours did not had jurisdiction to expel him. And the video and found that the alleged exist, there would be an even greater when we found out more, it became victim of K’s aggression had been unmet need.” an interesting, fact-heavy case.” waiting for K outside the convenience As Brothers discovered, schools store in what appeared to be a threat- can hold kids accountable for their ening posture, suggesting that K had behavior as they go to and from the been provoked. campus, although, she says, “there “Devan and Michael went above are a lot of gray areas as to what that and beyond what many attorneys means.” One of K’s classmates made would do,” says Professor Fee. “To a video of the fight, which clearly find that video was remarkable. They revealed that K took the first swing at showed it at the school district’s another student. The video seemed to disciplinary hearing, and I believe it be compelling evidence that K was at made a difference with some of the fault, and the school expelled him. members of the panel who wanted to “It was appalling, because K give K a second chance.” was new to the school district, and However, the school persisted he did not know the background or with its decision to expel K, and the reputation of the other kids he got clinic filed an appeal with the Los

SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL 6 outhwestern’s legal clinics enable law Entertainment and the Arts Legal Clinic students to gain greater practical skills Students who have demonstrated exceptional Sand get an invaluable real-context view competency and interest in media and of the law in action as they represent and entertainment law are selected for this clinic. assist some of the community’s most abused, Students provide production business and legal neglected and disadvantaged children and affairs services for independent documentary families. Clinic students work on real cases and feature films under the supervision of for academic credit under close supervision of faculty. faculty who are licensed, practicing attorneys. The students take on heavy responsibility Immigration Law Clinic for strategy and execution of an array of Students represent children and adults in legal matters and often are involved in cases immigration matters such as Special Immigrant from beginning to end. They must adhere to Juvenile Status, Violence Against Women Act professional responsibility requirements such and U-Visa cases where clients have been as client confidentiality, civility and duty to the abused, neglected or abandoned, or have been court, and learn how to exhibit empathy and victims of a crime. professionalism when counseling clients. Street Law Clinic Appellate Litigation Clinic Students teach law-related critical life skills Students work with a professor in litigating a to high school students, most of whom are pro bono appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court of involved in the dependency or delinquency Appeals, up to and including oral argument system. The clinic students step into the roles before the court. of teacher, mentor and advocate to inform the teenagers about their rights and provide Children’s Rights Clinic legal information and resources they need to successfully transition to independent living. Students represent low-income children in school discipline proceedings or children with Youth Offender Parole Hearing Clinic disabilities in special education proceedings, Students in this clinic work with a professor and work with community groups to advocate in preparing a case and representing inmates for better and more equitable educational sentenced to life in prison (who were youth opportunities. offenders) in special parole hearings.