Community Legal Services (CLS) is McGeorge’s year-round legal clinic providing pro bono legal services to our community in the areas of Immigration, Bankruptcy, and Elder & Health Law. This summer our team of 14 law students, 7 attorneys, 4 legal fellows and our key support staff, continued to represent individual clients in spite of the challenges we all faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some highlights of our work. |
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Student Attorneys Mobilize to Work Remotely During Pandemic |
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The Immigration Clinic zoom team meeting during shelter-in-place Spring 2020 semester.
Pictured left to right: Blake Nordahl; Ashley Silva-Guzman; Stephanie Peralta; Patricia Castillo; Todd Masuda; Alexander Cabalunda; Jacob H Stoeltzing; Gonzalo Duran; Hannah Fortin; Jorge Lopez; Kishwer Vikaas;
Elizabeth Isiordia (not pictured)
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On Friday, March 13, 2020, CLS staff packed up their offices to move into their new home around the corner at 2925 34th Street. The following Tuesday, while students were on spring break, the statewide stay-at-home order was issued.
“We had to quickly figure how to continue delivering services to our clients, manage our students, and figure out work from home spaces in our own homes. It was a uniquely stressful time,” Staff Attorney Lacey Mickleburgh, recalled.
“We had boxes to unpack and an office to arrange. On the bright side, it gave us some time to arrange the office in a way that will serve clients and students much better as we move forward, said Blake Nordahl, Supervising Attorney for the Immigration Clinic. “We have been able to create a warm and inviting safe space for students, staff, and our clients.”
Despite being isolated from friends, colleagues, professors, and resources, Student Attorneys illustrated their commitment to the needs of Clients by calling them and inquiring as to their safety and well-being during the shelter-in-place order.
“Our students truly rose to the occasion to continue to provide direct legal representation, to calm worries and fears and to provide resources and information on benefits that might help our clients get through this trying time,” added Lacey.
After developing strict re-opening protocols approved by the Sacramento County Health Department, Student Attorneys joined staff and supervising attorneys on June 22, 2020 at the brand-new Legal Clinic office in Oak Park. Emeriti Professors Julie Davies and Dorothy Landsberg continued to provide their wisdom, expertise and lawyering skills for the benefit of all.
CLS also welcomed its first group of Post-Graduate Legal Fellows: Kendall Bennett, Oscar Cardoza, Claire Godwin and Julian Gonzalez. The Fellows provide additional support to the success of CLS, as they split their time with bar prep studies.
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The Elder & Health Law Clinic zoom team meeting during shelter-in-place Spring 2020 semester. |
Pictured top row left to right: Melissa C. Brown;
Lacey Mickleburgh; Julian Gonzalez; Natalie Dimas;
Middle row left to right: Cristina Tolentino; Dayra Juarez; Mariam Pambukyan;
Bottom row: Taylore Kadin; Melissa Stepovich
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Lawyering During a Pandemic |
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Elder and Health Law Clinic team preparing for a deposition during Summer 2020.
Pictured: staff attorney Lacey Mickleburgh, student attorney Jacob Haynes, student attorney Mariam Pambukyan, and clinic director Melissa Brown.
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McGeorge Legal Clinics are implementing strong safety protocols to allow our staff and student attorneys to work during the COVID-19 crisis. Pictured McGeorge Legal Clinic’s COVID Protocol Cheat Sheet, hand sanitizer dispenser, and handmade social distancing sign.
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Over the summer, Student and Staff Attorneys have been utilizing the new Oak Park legal office to meet with clients, prepare for and appear in litigation, legal proceedings and conferences.
On July 23, 2020, Student Attorney Alex Cabaluna and Staff Attorney Kishwer Vikaas, both from the Immigration Clinic, prepared for and appeared at a two-day asylum hearing. Their arguments and advocacy persuaded the court to grant a “protection from removal” to a detained teenager from South Asia facing political persecution, allowing their client to live and work legally in the United States.
In addition, Immigration Student Attorneys Elizabeth Isiordia, Patricia Castillo, Jorge Lopez Espindola, Stephanie Peralta, and Gonzalo Duran prepared cases for three Zoom court hearings for Special Immigrant Juvenile Findings this summer. The courts granted all three petitions.
Elder Health & Law student attorneys also made successful use of the brand-new law firm. Student Attorneys Mariam Pambukyan, Jacob Haynes, Allegra Aguirre, and Andrew Ledzema prepared for, took, or defended four depositions this summer in preparation for litigation. They had several Superior Court settlement and case management conferences. Elder & Health Law Student Attorney Dayra Juarez represented a client in an elder restraining order hearing. Dayra’s preparedness for the hearing and advocacy persuaded the court to restrain the abuser as well as ordering her to re-convey the client’s home to her, thus protecting our client from further financial elder abuse. Student Attorneys Melissa Stepovich and Natalie Dimas assisted clients in probate litigation matters, and all students helped clients in other matters such as estate planning and consumer disputes.
Student Attorney Mariam Pambukyan believes that our students have proven they are capable of navigating obstacles that impact the communities we serve, “We are still able to fulfill our mission of helping our communities with their legal needs regardless of circumstances. It is empowering knowing that we can succeed in uncertain times like these.”
Bankruptcy Student Attorney Caitlyn Macanas prepared client files and informed clients of the next steps in the Bankruptcy process in light of the impact COVID-19 has had on pending filings. She, and Supervising Attorney Warren Jones, handled all remote hearings in the Bankruptcy Court on behalf of grateful clients. “We learned how to adapt and found a way to do,” says Caitlin.
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Community Legal Services is located within a short walk from the McGeorge Campus. |
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CLS will remain open in Fall 2020, providing essential services to vulnerable members of our community, who have no place else to turn.
“The grit, dedication, creativity, and resourcefulness of our Student Attorneys has been remarkable,” said Legal Clinic Director, Melissa Brown. “I am so pleased that many of our summer students will be continuing to work for their clients this fall, and look forward to the new students joining us in a fully operating law firm of 28 Student Attorneys.”
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Follow McGeorge Community Legal Clinics in Social Media |
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