|
CLINICAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS | |
|
|
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Welcome to the 2022-2023 edition of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC Law) Clinical Highlights. On behalf of the UDC Law Clinical program, its faculty, staff, and students, I am honored to share this collection of clinical program achievements with you.
In 1964, Edgar and Jean Camper Cahn penned a seminal article, "The War on Poverty: A Civilian Perspective." Their work paved the way for federally funded legal aid. Their work also laid the framework for a new way of educating lawyers who would dismantle systems and work for the good of the people.
Over 50 years ago, Jean and Edgar founded UDC Law’s predecessor, Antioch School of Law. Antioch School of Law was formed with a groundbreaking clinical educational model that sought to mobilize legal education to train lawyers to practice law, promote justice, and change lives.
Today, we ardently and purposefully carry forward Edgar and Jean Cahn’s mission. UDC Law boasts a longstanding reputation for its commitment to providing a comprehensive practical legal education to students who represent groups traditionally underrepresented at the bar. UDC Law maintains one of the most robust clinical legal education programs in the country. All UDC Law graduates are required to earn between 10 and 14 course hours of clinical instruction. Our law professors are committed to and passionate about ensuring that our students learn how to marry theory and practice in a vibrant and energetic experiential atmosphere. And these efforts have born marvelous fruit as UDC Law is known for producing lawyers that are “practice ready.”
In January of 2022, UDC Law and the broader legal services community mourned the passing of our Co-Founder, Edgar Cahn. Professor Edgar Cahn is remembered as a staunch advocate for social justice who dared to call out a system that did not serve our most vulnerable populations. He demanded that we develop new ways to address and ameliorate our societal condition. Earlier this year, we celebrated the life of Professor Edgar Cahn, and in his memory, we dedicate this edition of the Clinical Program Highlights.
In this newsletter, you will learn more about the leadership of our faculty, the transformative experiences of our students, and our law school’s unwavering commitment to practicing law, promoting justice, and changing lives.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating our achievements.
Sincerely,
|  | |
Twinette Johnson
Dean and Professor of Law
| | | |
CRIMINAL DEFENSE AND RACIAL JUSTICE CLINIC | Criminal Defense and Racial Justice Clinic Students Pursue Equity through Defense Representation and Reentry Advocacy | The Criminal Defense and Racial Justice Clinic (CDRJC) students have worked on numerous legal issues disproportionately impacting DC’s most vulnerable communities, ranging from misdemeanor offenses to parole cases, clemency petitions, and motions to seal criminal records. Their commitment to thorough investigation and case preparation has resulted in the dismissal of multiple misdemeanor cases, offering their clients a fresh start. |
| | |
|
Youth Justice Clinic Takes Holistic Approach to Reform
Led by Professor Saleema Snow, the Youth Justice Clinic at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law is dedicated to enhancing the lives of the youth it serves. This commitment involves addressing a range of complex issues connected to youth justice and juvenile involvement, such as racism, adultification bias, educational disparities, and housing instability. These factors collectively contribute to young individuals becoming involved in the juvenile justice system.
| | |
Tax Clinic Provides Valuable Assistance and Community Outreach at the Tax Court
| |
Student attorneys from the Tax Clinic participated in the United States Tax Court’s Calendar Call to assist individuals representing themselves and hosted a series of informative tax presentations at the Petworth Neighborhood Library.
Calendar call programs, organized by various bar associations, integrated bars, and professional organizations, serve as a vital platform for volunteer tax practitioners to offer free legal aid to individuals navigating the complexities of tax law in the Court. The Court acknowledges the essential role these programs play in providing information and legal assistance to those who might otherwise struggle to represent themselves.
| |  |
DC Bar Grants $10,000 to UDC Law Tax Clinic for Community Initiatives | |
The DC Bar has generously provided the UDC Law Tax Clinic with a grant of $10,000 to bolster their initiatives in assisting the low-income community. In addition to supporting students with valuable research tools, the grant will facilitate a 2024 “Tax Day” event. The two-day event will be co-hosted with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the DC Office of Tax and Revenue. On the first day, the clinic will offer tax guidance to DC government employees. On the second day, the clinic will offer tax support services to low-income residents of the district. The grant from the DC Bar the Tax Clinic’s commitment to serving the local community and promoting tax awareness and education.
| | |
IMMIGRATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC | |
UDC Law Immigration and Human Rights Clinic Welcomes New Directors to Support the Impactful Work of Clinic Students
The Immigration and Human Rights Clinic welcomes two new directors, Professor Jocelyn B. Cazares Willingham and Professor Anne Schaufele.
Professor Cazares Willingham joins the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law from Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as a clinical teaching fellow with the Center for Applied Legal Studies.
Professor Schaufele joins UDC Law from American University, Washington College of Law, where she was a Practitioner-in-Residence in the International Human Rights Law Clinic and later a visiting Director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic.
Professors Cazares Willingham and Schaufele have continued the clinic’s legacy of providing students the opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to the immigration system in the U.S. through direct representation of clients in humanitarian immigration cases.
The clinic's new leadership is overseeing separate day and evening sessions in fall 2023, which cover a broad range of immigration matters, including cases involving detained noncitizens seeking humanitarian protection in the United States.
| |
The Impactful Work of the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic Students | |
The Immigration and Human Rights Clinic celebrates a year of successful resolutions for clients and learning opportunities for students. Last year, the Clinic secured an asylum grant for a young man from the Caribbean based on his fear of harm due to his LGBTQ identity; a work permit for an East African DC resident facing homelessness; and the dismissal of removal proceedings for three clients. The work of these clients and students is a testament to the Clinic’s commitment to providing comprehensive support to those in need.
| | |
HOUSING ADVOCACY AND LITIGATION CLINIC
| |
Building a Better Tomorrow Through Housing Security | |
The Housing Advocacy and Litigation Clinic (HALC) is provided in collaboration with Rising for Justice (formerly known as D.C. Law Students in Court) a leader in training social justice advocates and representing low-income clients through its clinical programs since 1969. HALC places UDC Law students in the Landlord & Tenant Courthouse, where they have an opportunity to meet and work directly with clients facing eviction or housing insecurity in the District of Columbia. HALC students are taught by a team of expert housing lawyers and clinical instructors and participate jointly with students from other DC area law schools. | |
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION CLINIC | Whistleblower Protection Clinic Nurtures a Culture of Accountability | |
|
The Whistleblower Protection Clinic at the University of the District of Columbia School of Law offers a pivotal educational experience to students. Led by Professor Tom Devine, the Legal Director of the Government Accountability Project (GAP), this one-of-a-kind clinic empowers students to explore the intricate realm of whistleblower protection. Students embark on a journey of knowledge, responsibility, and advocacy, ultimately helping shape government accountability.
| |
General Practice Clinic Empowers Survivors and Bridges Gaps
For the past year, General Practice Clinic (GPC) students represented survivors of intimate partner violence in protection order cases. With the guidance of Co-Directors Andrew Budzinski and Tianna Gibbs, students extended their support of survivors beyond legal representation, helping their clients secure housing, economic security, and personal safety.
| | | |
Class of 2023 Clinical Program Alumni Spotlight | |
The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law is delighted to celebrate a few of the remarkable achievements of its recent graduates. | |
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LAW CLINIC | |
UDC Law Community Development Law Clinic Empowering Housing Cooperatives and Providing Entrepreneurial Support
The Community Development Law Clinic (CDLC) is a hive of activity, providing legal support to housing cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, and community entrepreneurs.
One of CDLC’s primary areas of focus has been assisting tenants under the District of Columbia’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). TOPA grants tenants in certain circumstances the right to purchase the property they are renting before it is sold to another party. CDLC’s student attorneys facilitated the conversion of multifamily properties into housing cooperatives. They diligently worked on drafting organizational documents, reviewing loan agreements, collaborating with development consultants, and coordinating with multiple stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.
| | | |
UDC Law Students Engage in Civil Rights Advocacy Through Immersive Service-Learning Experience | |
A service-learning delegation from the University of the District of Columbia Law embarked on a journey to the South during the 2023 spring break. Olie W. Rauh Professor of Law, John Brittain, led the UDC Law delegation embarking on a civil rights tour that stretched from Memphis to Jackson, culminating in collaborative projects with the Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ). | |
From the Student Perspective: The UDC Law Clinical Program Provides Valuable Practical Experience | Aspiring law students often seek a well-rounded education that goes beyond textbooks and lectures, aiming to leave law school with theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Grace Dunnehoff ’24, a third-year law student at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) David A. Clarke School of Law, shared her insights on the General Practice Clinic and the Community Development Law Clinic, emphasizing the significance of experiential learning in her legal education. | | |
UDC Law Clinics Foster Collaboration and Engagement | |
At the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law clinic students are presented with valuable opportunities for collaboration within the UDC community and with local organizations. Internally, our clinics have organized collaborative training sessions, addressing topics such as Emotional Intelligence, Trauma-Informed Lawyering, Importance of Mitigation, Introduction to Clemency, Professionalism, and Career Panels, among others.
| | |
2022-2023 Clinical Faculty Scholarship | UDC Law’s Clinicians, all tenured or tenure-track Professors of Law, not only work daily to practice law, promote justice, and change lives with our students but they also take the time to advocate for systemic change through scholarship, media appearances, training, and other advocacy. |
| | |
CLINICAL PROGRAM FACULTY AND STAFF | |
Community Development Law Clinic
Jerome Hughes, Director and Assistant Professor
Criminal Defense and Racial Justice Clinic
Ieshaah Murphy, Director and Assistant Professor
General Practice Clinic
Andrew Budzinski, Co-Director and Associate Professor
Tianna Gibbs, Co-Director/Professor
Housing Advocacy and Litigation Clinic
David Yellin, Director and Adjunct Professor
Immigration and Human Rights Clinic
Jocelyn Cazares Willingham, Co-Director and Assistant Professor
Anne Schaufele, Co-Director and Assistant Professor
Legislation and Civil Rights Clinic
Marcy Karin, Director and Jack and Lovell Olender Professor
Tax Clinic
Sakinah Tillman, Director and Assistant Professor
Whistleblower Protection Clinic
Tom Devine, Director and Adjunct Professor
Youth Justice Clinic
Vanita Saleema Snow, Director, and Professor
Tiffanny Smith, Managing Attorney, Clinical and Experiential Program
Shuba Sankaran, Clinical Staff Assistant
|
| |
Practice Law. Promote Justice. Change Lives. |
| | | |
