Clinic Newsletter Spring 2011

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SPRING 2011

SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, IMMIGRATION LAW AND STREET LAW

CLINICS

CLINIC

NEWSLETTER INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 1 Children’s Rights Clinic 3 Immigration Law Clinic 3 Contact Information 4 Street Law Clinic and Public Service Program

SOUTHWESTERN PARTNERS WITH THE CHILDREN’S LAW CENTER

CLINIC STUDENTS’ FINAL PROJECTS

A Unique Externship Opportunity

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he Children’s Law Center and Southwestern Law School’s year-long program offers a new opportunity for law students, beginning the Summer of 2011. This program is a one year commitment, beginning with full time work for ten weeks during the summer. Students accepted in the program will then register for 2 units of externship credit for both the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 semesters, for a total of 4 units (Credit/No-credit). Three law students will be selected to participate. Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles (CLC) is a nonprofit, public interest law corporation funded by the Los Angeles Dependency Court to serve as appointed counsel for abused and neglected children in Los Angeles County. CLC attorneys represent children in the foster care system, advocate for critical supports and services and serve as their “voice” while these children are under the jurisdiction of the dependency court. Practicing in dependency court requires the development of expertise in a variety of areas including negotiation and mediation skills, legal research and writing, and trial skills along with an array of non-legal areas related to child and family well being including, child development, health and mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence and special education. Children’s Law Center offers an unparalleled level of expertise in child advocacy and a unique opportunity for law students and attorneys who wish to specialize in the representation of children in child abuse and neglect cases. For more information on CLC, please visit their website at clcla.org We would like to congratulate these three students who were selected to participate: Dana Branen, Kristen Cortez and Deborah Kahn. Professor Cohen is looking forward to working with them as their faculty advisor.

SAVE THE DATE! Our Public Service Awards Luncheon, where we will recognize our students who performed at least 25 hours of pro bono public service this academic year, and those who are graduating with 75+ PSP hours, will be held April 7 (see Program Details on page 4). OTHER IMPORTANT DATES Clinic Open House March 24, 5-7 pm Clinic Information Session April 4, 12:30 pm, W311 2011-2012 Clinic Applications Due April 15

Solutions to Special Needs Problems n Fall 2010, Children’s Rights Clinic (CRC) students were presented with a unique challenge—to work in groups and research areas of special education and discipline law in ways separate from typical legal research. Intended to mirror the type of research students might confront at a nonprofit organization, CRC students were asked to describe a current systemic problem; gather data about the nature and extent of the problem; and propose a response to the problem in both written and oral form. Candace Jones, Marissa Gittler, Natalie Rodriguez and Sam Wolf researched the exemption of several local charter schools from the California Education Code and how the exemptions affect students attending these schools, particularly in the area of school discipline. Kristen Cortez, Jennifer Hartman, Bahar Sodaify, Chris Treiber and Heather Walters researched the process of manifestation determination review—that is, the process by which a student with special needs is disciplined for actions separate and distinct from actions associated with the student’s disability. Both groups presented possible solutions that were both innovative and practical. CRC plans to expand on the students’ research through development of a pilot project that will work with local charter schools on deriving collaborative alternatives to expulsion when dealing with specific school code violations.

A THANK YOU LETTER FROM A GROUP HOME CASE MANAGER “I want to take this moment to thank each of you for all the hard work and effort you put in to helping SB. What you all have made happen has literally changed her life and given her hope for her future, and also has helped her learn that there are good people in this world who will help you with no strings attached. She is a long way from trusting people, and that makes sense given her background, but you have planted some strong seeds in helping her learn to look at people differently. Another huge effect this has is her relationship with her family. They are so proud of her, and they see how she has grown as a young lady and they see a future for her. This is important to SB, especially in relation to her Mom and her little brother. As you all continue to help the SB’s of the world, I hope you take a moment to reflect on the huge effect it has on a young person’s life, both short & long term. You have made a difference in SB’s life and she is so blessed to have each of you in her life for this past year. Thanks again for everything.”


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