Welcome to the Spring edition of the East Bay Community Law Center’s (EBCLC) Newsletter. I am honored and excited to share this exclusive content with you! In Spring 2005, I was preparing for commencement at the Greek Theater. I remember how excited my family was to see me become a lawyer and how proud my classmates and I were of our collective achievement. I am thrilled that our 2022 graduates will share that experience, this year. As graduation approaches, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate and welcome EBCLC graduates to our alumni community. I am particularly proud of these students for their efforts in sustaining EBCLC’s rapid-response work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; I applaud their commitment to providing legal interventions that have helped keep our clients housed and healthy during this challenging period. I also recognize the collective investments that help bolster these critical services and invite you to join me in honoring these students’ efforts by contributing to EBCLC’s Spring Appeal. I encourage you to read our Clinical Director, Seema Patel's further reflections on clinical programs under the "Unit Spotlight" section. I hope this newsletter provides you with a deeper sense of connection with our staff, students, and their critical work. Thank you for being part of our treasured alumni community!

In Community,  Tiffany R. Thomas Chair  EBCLC Board of Directors

Unit Spotlight Clinical Programs As alumni, you might recall the impact your individual EBCLC clinical supervising attorney(s) had on your time in clinic, your experience in law school, or perhaps even on your legal career. I reflect on all of these impacts often. For more than three decades, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, EBCLC's clinical supervising attorneys have remained steadfast in this mission. Rooted in the Law Center's approach of reflective practice and informed by EBCLC's Women of Color-centered platform, our team teaches and inspires more than one hundred law students annually to be compassionate, client-centered advocates. As I near the end of my fifth year as Clinical Director—and fifteenth year as an EBCLC alum!—I remain flabbergasted at the multifold impact of our work on clients, community, and emerging lawyers. What about your EBCLC clinical experience is most memorable for you? —Seema N. Patel, Clinical Director Berkeley Law, Class of 2006

Events & Opportunities

EBCLC Events Check out some of our upcoming events, or take time to revisit past webinars! Make it Make Cents: Understanding Public Service Loan Forgiveness Recorded 2/10/22 Watch here Stay tuned for an upcoming eviction defense webinar with EBCLC's housing experts and alumni gatherings in the fall. Visit EBCLC's Official Youtube channel to view more of our virtual events. EBCLC Jobs Have you thought about working at EBCLC? We strongly encourage alumni to apply! Staff Attorney/ Clinical Advisor - Immigration Staff Attorney/ Clinical Advisor - Community Economic Justice Director of Operations Intake/Program Coordinator - Housing Visit EBCLC.org for more information.

Alumni Spotlight “My summer at EDJY was my first immersive experience in holistic legal advocacy to combat the school-prison nexus. It inspired me to develop a fellowship project using the same model of advocacy to serve system-involved young people in Los Angeles. As a clinical supervisor in the Youth Justice Education Clinic at Loyola Law School, I still rely on my EDJY training and aim to give my students the same experience I had the privilege of having." —Vivian Wong, EBCLC EDJY Summer Law Clerk, Class of 2016

Student Spotlight

I joined EBCLC because I wanted practical experience working directly with members of our community. EBCLC helped me break out of the bubble that law students can find themselves stuck in, which doesn’t extend past law building. While working in the Clean Slate unit, I was able to learn from experience rather than theories. By seeing our clients’ everyday struggles, engaging in impact litigation, and working with supervising attorneys in courtroom settings, EBCLC uplifted my professional confidence while fulfilling my desire to make meaningful contributions to our society. —Nazeerah Ali, Clean Slate DCOP, Spring 2022

Support EBCLC's Spring Appeal

We Want to Hear From You! Please take a moment to share your feedback Email your questions and comments to [email protected]