Clinical Law Prof Blog

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: UMass's Daniela D'Arcangelo, Diana Turcios and Timothy Trocchio

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From University of Massachusetts School of Law: 

Outstanding Clinic Team:  Daniela D'Arcangelo and Diana Turcios

Working as a team, Daniela D'Arcangelo and Diana Turcios' dedication to social justice and to empowering their clients was evident throughout their client representation and their work with the community. Their empathy ensured that their clients truly viewed them as their advocates. Daniela and Diana worked tirelessly with one of their clients who had a particularly traumatic experience, recognizing the effects of this trauma on the client’s ability to tell their story. When it became clear that this client had not been entirely forthcoming about their situation, Daniela and Diana continued to display grace and empathy. The client explained that it was seeing how much Daniela and Diana cared and were willing to fight for them that led them to be more truthful. Throughout this experience, they never lost sight of the systemic factors giving rise to the situation that led the client to make the decisions they did. Since completing the clinic, Daniela and Diana have continued supporting the immigrant community and the work of the clinic.

 

Outstanding Externship Student Award:  Timothy Trocchio

 

During Timothy Trocchio's externship with a criminal defense attorney, he consistently demonstrated a commitment to client-centered lawyering, high-quality advocacy, and professional growth. His willingness to confront complex and ethically challenging cases — including representation that stirred personal conflict — reflects his remarkable maturity and integrity. Tim embraced difficult moments with thoughtfulness, ultimately deepening his understanding of the attorney’s duty of zealous advocacy and the emotional resilience required in criminal practice.

 

Tim’s excellence extended into the seminar component. His reflections were among the most thoughtful and self-aware I have encountered, demonstrating a keen ability to link real-world experiences with broader legal and ethical principles. He explored topics such as the importance of courtroom professionalism, the emotional challenges of criminal defense work, and the growth mindset necessary for professional development.

 

Tim demonstrated collaboration by forging meaningful professional relationships with attorneys, court staff, and fellow externs. His contributions to classroom discussions and his willingness to offer support and insights to his peers enriched the learning environment. Tim’s placement also strengthened our clinical community's reputation: he impressed not only his supervising attorney but many UMASS Law alumni and practicing lawyers he encountered.

Tim embodies the values CLEA seeks to cultivate: he is not only prepared to succeed as a new attorney, but he is also poised to grow into a thoughtful, ethical, and community-centered leader.

Tim’s combination of technical skill, ethical engagement, professional reflection, and commitment to service makes him a standout candidate for this award.

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Oklahoma City's HEROES Clinic Team

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From Oklahoma City University School of Law: 

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Team: HEROES Clinic Team

The HEROES Clinic student team at OCU Law exemplifies excellence in clinical legal education through their transformative work at the cost dockets across Cleveland, Pottawatomie, and Canadian Counties in Oklahoma. Working alongside Legal Aid Services, these students have demonstrated exceptional skill in client representation while achieving transformative relief for low-income Oklahomans.

The team's fieldwork excellence is evidenced by their efficiency and effectiveness. In high-pressure environments, they conduct thorough client interviews in under 10 minutes, developing persuasive arguments for fee waivers in hearings that may last only 5 minutes. In only 3 short months since its inception, they secured over $470,591.32 in waived debt for 98 clients. Their ability to rapidly analyze complex financial circumstances and translate them into compelling legal arguments demonstrates mastery of both substantive law and practical advocacy.

In the seminar component, students demonstrated thoughtful reflection on ethical obligations, systemic inequities, and the broader impact of financial penalties in the legal system. Their class discussions revealed a deep engagement with questions of justice and professional responsibility.

Perhaps most impressive is the team’s collaboration. They worked together to triage clients, support each other under pressure, and ensure no one was left behind. They acted with mutual respect and a shared commitment to service, often volunteering additional time to ensure clients were seen.

Through their teamwork, the HEROES Clinic has made a measurable impact on clients, the courts, and each other. They exemplify the highest ideals of clinical legal education and are richly deserving of the Clinic Team Award.

 

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Pepperdine's Caelan Fraschetti and Gabrielle Poremba

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law:

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student: Caelan Fraschetti:

Caelan Fraschetti participated in several clinics during his tenure at Caruso Law, and he excelled time and again. In the Community Justice Clinic, Caelan offered smart, useful advice to a nonprofit client serving children in foster care and vital research for a global NGO combating human trafficking. In the Restoration and Justice Clinic, Caelan helped a trafficked, transgender client vacate (expunge and seal) her criminal record and a male victim seek a domestic violence restraining order. Caelan also served clients in the Legal Aid Clinic. In all his work, Caelan demonstrates excellence, compassion, deep reflection, and a heart for justice.

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student: Gabrielle Poremba:

Gabi completed an externship at the Department of Justice, where she received outstanding reviews from her supervisor for her excellent work product, diligent work ethic, and enthusiastic commitment to growing over the course of the semester.  She was a true asset and provided excellent assistance to the attorneys in her office.  In the seminar, Gabi was a shining example to the class.  She shared thoughtful insights about both her work and the concerns raised by other students, and was the catalyst for important conversations about working in the federal government during a time of deep political strife.  Her astute reflections about the impact of that environment demonstrated profound self-awareness and the highest ethical standards.  Her decision to share that experience tremendously enriched the seminar experience for the class.  Gabi's maturity, ethical compass, and commitment to professionalism are exemplary. 

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: UDC's Jeremiah Baltimore, Isabella Borrero, and John (Jack) Satti

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law:

Outstanding Clinic Student or Team: Jeremiah Baltimore and Isabella Borrero 

Jeremiah Baltimore and Isabella Borrero represented a client who fled his home country with his two young sons after a local gang with MS-13 connections targeted and killed members of his family. All students of the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic were warned of the level of work, care, and dedication required for their cases, and particularly for the case of "Hector" who had his hearing set for mid-October. This meant that students assigned to that case only had two months to complete the evidentiary filing and prepare the client for his hearing. Despite knowing the monumental task ahead, Jeremiah and Isabella jumped at the opportunity and demonstrated relentless and dedicated advocacy throughout. They not only finalized an evidentiary filing of over 500 pages and a compelling brief, but they also zealously advocated for Hector* in not one, but four grueling individual hearings that included hotly contested credibility and evidentiary issues. Though the clinic continues to fight for Hector, the work, dedication, and genuine care that Isabella and Jeremiah displayed was integral in maintaining Hector* hopeful and even led the immigration judge to say that Isabella and Jeremiah "were very prepared and versed in the law. They were as prepared, if not more, than many lawyers [the judge] see[s] in [his] court. All their arguments, statements, and closing were very well-reasoned and researched."

Outstanding Externship Student: John (Jack) Satti

John (Jack) Satti served his externship at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), Disclosure Unit, whose mission is to investigate disclosures of wrongdoing within the executive branch of the federal government from current federal employees, former federal employees, and applicants for federal employment. The Disclosure Unit reviews six types of disclosures. The categories are violations of law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; a gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and/or censorship related to research. His major undertaking this semester was drafting memorandums researching many of the personnel actions being undertaken throughout the federal government by the Trump administration, in order to assess the legality of personnel actions and investigate potential violations of law.  

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: George Washington's Kelly Hennessy

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From George Washington University Law School: 

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student:  Kelly Hennessy

This year’s awardee fully embodies the qualities and spirit of the Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student Award. The awardee shined throughout her time in Criminal Defense and Justice Clinic, approaching each one of her cases with exceptional creativity, compassion, and tenacity. In one particularly notable case, the awardee’s dedication and skill led to a rare and important victory for a client charged with distribution of marijuana. After months of litigation and extensive briefing, the awardee and her clinic partner successfully persuaded the court to dismiss their client’s case and find that the Metropolitan Police Department violated the client’s rights under the Equal Protection Clause by enforcing DC’s marijuana’s laws in a racially discriminatory manner. Although the awardee’s time in clinic concluded in the fall, she continued to work tirelessly on this case through the Spring, fighting against the government’s efforts to reverse the court’s decision. This year’s awardee of the Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student Award goes to Kelly Hennessy.

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Baltimore's Juhi Naik, Maryam Mirza and Victoria Amah

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From the University of Baltimore School of Law: 

Outstanding Clinic Team Award: Juhi Naik and Maryam Mirza

Nominated by Immigration Rights Clinic faculty Valeria Gomez and Emily Johanson, Juhi and Maryam excelled in a case so challenging that, as their professor noted, “other attorneys would have given up.”  They took on the challenge of representing a noncitizen refugee who was incarcerated and facing removal in immigration court due to his previous convictions. Juhi and Maryam were persistent, strategic, and creative in their advocacy. They maximized their client’s agency, effectively using trauma-informed and client-centered lawyering and insisted on allowing their client as much agency as possible (in a setting where he has such little agency) and to have an informed say on issues like fact gathering, case strategy, and privacy. Juhi and Maryam represented their client in a competency hearing honestly and persuasively, leading to the granting of a requested accommodation.  They also convinced a crucial expert witness to provide an expert declaration by conducting effective, efficient fact gathering. To again quote their professor, their courtroom advocacy was “phenomenal.”

Outstanding Externship Student Award: Victoria Amah

Tori Amah was nominated by Prof. and Director of Externships Neha Lall.  Tori took every opportunity to become the kind of prosecutor she believes Baltimore City deserves. Spurred by her concern about the lack of representation in prosecution, Tori completed two externships with the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office and another with a Circuit Court Judge, and earned praise for her self-reflective and thoughtful approach, exceptional communication skills, and commitment to her colleagues.

 

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Loyola-LA's Andrew White

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

 

Loyola Law School - Los Angeles:

 

CLEA Outstanding Clinical Student: Andrew White

 

During his time at Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution’s (LLCR) Conciliation and Mediation Assistance Clinic (fall 2023 to fall 2024), Andrew White exhibited an unwavering commitment to helping individuals while continuously enhancing his mediation skills. His proactive approach to seeking feedback and tackling challenging cases exemplifies his dedication to professional growth and helping others, and, accordingly, Andrew successfully resolved numerous cases that kept parties housed, prevented wage garnishment, facilitated informed decision-making, and concluded contentious litigation. By embodying the essential qualities of a mediator, he ensured that every client felt heard and empowered to achieve resolutions without court intervention. 

 

One highlight of Andrew’s work includes his resolution of a complex eviction case involving a counterclaim for uninhabitability issues with damages exceeding $300,000. Over two mediation sessions, Andrew skillfully guided both parties to common ground where they could develop collaborative solutions. After 30 years of residence, the tenants’ home finally underwent much-needed and long-overdue improvements, including a new kitchen, washer/dryer hookups, and expanded closets in both bedrooms. Simultaneously, the landlord was able to reduce the square footage of the main house in order to transform his studio apartment into a one-bedroom unit with a chef’s kitchen. Thanks to this hard-earned compromise, both parties then agreed to dismiss their legal complaints with prejudice, effectively ending their contentious litigation.  

 

Andrew was also a consummate community member who enthusiastically supported his colleagues, most notably in creating an information packet for new clinic students that actively fostered LCCR’s commitment to collaboration. As a bilingual professional fluent in both English and Spanish, Andrew also enriched our clinic’s outreach and effectiveness. The LCCR staff and students affectionately referred to him as “Señor Andres Blanco,” a testament to the respect and admiration he has earned from his peers. 

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Maryland's Connor Lemma and Julianna Simpson

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law: 

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Team: Connor Lemma and Julianna Simpson

Julianna Simpson and Connor Lemma were valuable additions to the LITC this semester.  Together, they participated in several outreach events, including Tax Compliance Day, Money Power Day, and the Resource Fair at Mondawmin Village.  At these events, thy both provided tax advice and attendees and represented the clinic with professionalism and care.

They both excelled in client representation as well.  Connor worked to resolve his clients’ cases by securing more manageable payment plans or obtaining Currently Not Collectible (CNC)/hardship status. His dedication and initiative throughout the semester demonstrated that he will be a strong and compassionate member of the legal community. Julianna, through her calm and steady approach, successfully resolved most of her cases with favorable outcomes, which included negotiating a 50% reduction in interest and securing the removal of penalties at both the federal and state levels on behalf of a client.

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Case Western's Macie Mancuso

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From Case Western Reserve University School of Law:

Outstanding Clinic Student: Macie Mancuso

Case Western Reserve University School of Law nominates Macie Mancuso (Class of 2025) for Outstanding Clinic Student for her performance in our Second Chance Reentry Clinic during the Spring 20205 semester.  Macie's performance in the clinic was notable for a number of reasons, but what really stood out was her enthusiasm for helping her clients and her total immersion in the relevant statutes and subject area.  Macie developed strong relationships with her clients.  Two of her clients have VERY extensive criminal records, and she was determined to file motions to seal or expunge all of their statutorily eligible records by the end of the semester.  Macie was terrific with the gentle nudges to keep us moving with her clients so that she would have the opportunity to represent them at their hearings.  One of the clients has several hearings scheduled throughout the summer, and Macie intends to represent him at all of the hearings even though she will be studying for the bar exam.  (Macie WANTS to do this, and we are confident that she can do it, as she has an energy level that requires her to have multiple responsibilities at a time.)  Macie truly enjoys talking with her clients and taking care to keep them updated on the status of her work for them.  Macie's initiative is first-rate.  She encountered numerous novel legal questions over the course of the semester and in every instance she conducted the research and drafted a memo without me having to ask.  Her written work is excellent and rarely needs edits, thanks in part to the fact that she has memorized the relevant statutes such that I can trust the accuracy of her work.  Finally, Macie was 100% engaged in classroom discussion, helping to keep it interesting for everyone.  In all, Macie was a joy to work with, and it was so incredibly satisfying to observe her commitment to and interactions with clients such that you felt a terrific new advocate was being launched into the profession!

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Maine's Emily Nyman

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From the University of Maine School of Law

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student: Emily Nyman

Emily started working at the Clinic front desk in the first semester of her 1L year and never left. We quickly learned that Emily is smart, humble, and hard-working. As a volunteer, she spent hundreds of hours in the basement organizing 50 years of files before we moved to our new space. Since then she has helped the Clinic improve several internal processes.

As a Student Attorney, Emily spent two semesters in the General Practice Clinic litigating a wide variety of cases. She represented a parent who successfully reunified with her daughters; advocated for clients seeking Protection from Abuse Orders; defended clients in criminal court; litigated a variety of family matters; and led a team that filed a brief in the Law Court. She also travelled to Fort Kent to take on cases in the Rural Practice Clinic and volunteered to represent clients in the Prisoner Assistance Clinic. In all, she provided almost 650 hours of legal representation and contributed to the Clinic in a myriad of other ways. She is a problem solver and a tenacious and effective advocate. We are tremendously proud of Emily and will miss her presence at the Clinic.

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Drexel's Alex White and Celine Dugan

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law:

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student: Alex White 

Diligent and prepared, Alex deliberately tackled challenging projects and demanding clients. She excelled at maintaining clear communication, proactively resolving complex issues, and rarely required assistance. Her leadership and readiness stood out. Alex frequently volunteered to support classmates, consistently elevating the group's overall performance. She broadened her expertise across diverse legal fields, swiftly mastering business organizations, tax, securities, immigration, intellectual property, and employment law. Alex expertly drafted complex contracts and skillfully provided clear, practical solutions to clients. Alex’s one-on-one meetings demonstrated exceptional preparation and insight rarely seen in a law student. She embodies excellence, professionalism, and intellectual curiosity. Given my experience with Alex, I cannot more highly recommend a student for CLEA and internal clinical graduation awards.  

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award: Celine Dugan

Celine Dugan completed a co-op at the US Attorney’s Office, Civil Division in the fall semester of her 3L year. She received an excellent review from her supervisor during the formal evaluation process. The law school also received unsolicited feedback from several attorneys in the office about her outstanding performance.

Celine’s direct report supervisor spotlighted her work on a deposition that she handled for the office. Celine conducted the deposition of a represented third-party fact witness in a Federal Tort Claims Act/Bivens action involving an alleged sexual assault at a TSA checkpoint at the Philadelphia International Airport. Celine was well prepared, composed, and delivered a strong performance with a less than friendly witness. 

 

 

 

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: WashU's Lawson Sadler and Sophia Carney

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From Washington University School of Law:

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student: Lawson Sadler 

Graduating 3L Lawson Sadler exemplified excellence in WashU Law’s Clinical Education Program, though her hard work and dedication in both the Immigration Law Clinic and the Appellate Clinic. As a Fall 2024 student in the Immigration Law Clinic, Lawson represented nine immigrant clients. Lawson initially represented three immigrant families seeking permanent legal status, including one case scheduled for trial during the semester. When the trial was cancelled, Lawson calmly explained the situation to her clients and devised a case plan to keep the case active during the delay. In separate cases, Lawson supported asylum seeking families through affidavit preparation, legal memo drafting, employment authorization applications, and obtaining a state ID. Lawson sought out additional tasks, including preparing a client for an unexpected hearing, and advising the wife of a client on her eligibility to naturalize. Lawson also volunteered additional time to participate in community-organized workshops for immigrants. Lawson’s thorough yet efficient work habits allowed her to accomplish all this—and more—in only thirteen weeks.  

Lawson returned to the clinics the next semester, this time as a student advocate in the Appellate Clinic. There, she represented a habeas petitioner before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. After co-authoring a merits brief, Lawson presented an exceptional oral argument to a panel of three Circuit Judges in Richmond, Virginia in March. Her argument earned multiple compliments from the bench, and one career law clerk remarked that it was the best student argument she had ever seen, “by far.” On top of her principal case, Lawson volunteered to assist with an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of Missouri in a prominent civil-rights case. The process involved conducting multiple, lengthy, sensitive interviews with individuals and families impacted by the civil-rights issue and translating those real-world voices and experiences into a compelling brief. Throughout her time in the Appellate Clinic, Lawson consistently produced standout writing and embodied deft, client-centered lawyering.

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student: Sophia Carney

Sophia Carney was the very first WashU Law student to participate in an externship in the chambers of Rodney Holmes, who sits on the Eastern District of Missouri. Sophia was professional, attentive, and contributed substantive work in chambers that required few, if any, edits. Her writing and her questions were on point, always moving the report or order forward. Sophia set a standard of excellence and a commitment to learning, growing, and writing that has left a lasting impression on the externship and on Judge Holmes’ chambers. She solidified WashU Law’s relationship with Judge Holmes and created an avenue for future students to learn and grow in chambers for decades to come.

 

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Wyoming's Miles Gilbert

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From the University of Wyoming College of Law

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student: Miles Gilbert

I am writing to recommend my student, Miles Gilbert, for the 2025 CLEA Outstanding Student Award from the University of Wyoming College of Law. To that end, I would like to highlight some of Miles’ particular competencies that I believe make him particularly deserving of this award.

I have had the pleasure of supervising Miles very closely for the past two years, first as a student attorney and now as the Student Director of the University of Wyoming College of Law Defender Aid Clinic (Clinic). Miles is an excellent researcher and writer. I know I can trust Miles’ research because he is thorough, conscientious, and detail-oriented. My ability to trust Miles’ research is bolstered by his incredible work ethic. Throughout this past year, Miles has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Clinic, and has taken over the day-to-day administrative duties in the Clinic office. As a Student Director, Miles often works late on grueling and thankless tasks such as responding to requests for assistance, traveling across the state to view case files, answering phones, and being available for other Clinic students whenever they require advice and assistance. Miles is also a wonderful mentor to the other students in the Clinic, and has frequently taken a first pass at edits to court documents, pleadings, and other Clinic work product.

Similarly, Miles has excellent organizational skills that has proved invaluable to me over the past year. Clinic cases often involve intensive fact investigation, including interviewing witnesses, understanding client’s personal histories, coordinating with experts who opine on certain aspects of cases, and understanding the intricacies of our client’s lives. Throughout the year, Miles has demonstrated poise and competence in talking to clients and other stakeholders that impact our Clinic’s work. In particular, Miles’ commitment to the less glamorous aspects of lawyering such as file maintenance, note-taking, and meticulous attention to detail, makes him stand out compared to his peers.

I chose Miles to be my Student Director because of his professionalism, maturity, and respect for the work that our Clinic does and the clients that it serves. Over this past year, Miles has exceeded my expectations in all of these respects. In short, Miles takes his duties to our clients seriously and understands the gravity of his student attorney role. He is fully deserving of this award.

Meredith Esser Director

Defender Aid Clinic

University of Wyoming College of Law

 

 

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Arkansas's Christopher Piel and Holly Benson

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From the University of Arkansas School of Law: 

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Team: Christopher Piel and Holly Benson

University of Arkansas School of Law Criminal Practice Clinic third-year law students Christopher Piel and Holly Benson recently celebrated a victory when their client’s case was dismissed. After investigation, the team felt their client had a viable argument and that both charges should be dismissed on separate Fourth Amendment grounds. Piel spearheaded a high-level briefing and motion to dismiss the case, utilizing both state and federal authorities, including Brown v. Texas, 443 U.S. 47 (1979). Piel and Benson prepared diligently for trial, anticipating the need to try the case if the judge rejected the Fourth Amendment arguments at the pre-trial hearing. The clinic team maintained that the client was actually innocent, regardless of the Fourth Amendment issues. Then, just before the pre-trial hearing began, the prosecutor dismissed all charges against the client.

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: UC Berkeley's Belén de Leon and Justin Kaley

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From UC Berkely Law: 

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student: Belén de Leon

Belén de Leon ‘25 is the awardee of this year’s Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Clinic Student Award at UC Berkeley Law. Over four semesters in the Human Rights Clinic, Belén emerged as a principled, strategic, and deeply compassionate advocate. She took on some of the most complex legal challenges of our time—from corporate accountability to counter-terrorism and crimes against humanity—consistently producing work marked by her intellectual rigor and moral clarity. A quiet leader, she uplifts her peers and earns the trust of survivors and partners through empathy and resolve. Belén meets uncertainty with courage, and hardship with grace. The CLEA Award is not just an honor—they are powerful affirmations of her brilliance, resilience, and unwavering belief in human dignity. 

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student: Justin Kaley

 

Justin Kaley '25 is the awardee of the CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award from the UC Berkeley School Field Placement Program. I started meeting with Justin when a professor directed him to me as he was pursuing a non-traditional legal path. He was a first-year student trying to find his way. Watching him develop from a student into a proud member of the legal profession pursuing his passion has been an honor and a privilege. He came in with a clear commitment to serving underrepresented communities in a novel way. He has explored field placements that enabled him to see the legal system and how it could work for all. He has done three externships - one with the California Department of Justice Public Rights Division: Charitable Trusts Section, a judicial externship with the California Office of Tax Appeals, and his final semester a civil field placement with Legal Assistance for Seniors. He has taken three of the field placement class components. His lecturers have remarked - he is always engaged in discussions and a pleasure to have in class. At his placements, his supervisors have been impressed with his persistence and his insistence of providing the best legal service he can, his interest in learning and taking on more. In addition, he takes responsibility for his actions and learns from them. In addition, his interactions with the Field Placement Office staff have always been kind and professional, and that says a lot to all of us. We are excited and honored to nominate Justin for this award.

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Miami's Katirina Delviscio, Wilmy Dessalines, Tiana Montague, Nick Tricarico, Gregory Beason and Eyga Williamson

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From the University of Miami School of Law: 

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Team: Katirina Delviscio, Wilmy Dessalines, Tiana Montague, Nick Tricarico

I would like to nominate HRC’s Housing & Homelessness Team for the CLEA Clinical Team Award. This team (Katirina Delviscio, Wilmy Dessalines, Tiana Montague, Nick Tricarico) has been outstanding in both project and seminar work. They take the initiative to take projects to the next level, have forged strong relations with partners, and collaborate seamlessly, supporting each other.

They are one of the most prolific teams with whom I have worked and have taken on the following projects:

• Completing with MCARE (Miami Coalition to Advance Racial Equity) a report card on housing and racial justice in Miami-Dade County.
• Completing NHLC (National Homelessness Law Center) a report on the intersection of homelessness and mental heath, addressing current policies, providing a human rights analysis, and outlining human rights-based approaches.
• Completing with KAYLA (Konbit Ayisyen pou Lojman Altènatif) a report addressing the criminalization of homelessness in Haiti.
• Completing with NIWRC (National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center) a factsheet on foster care as a driver of homelessness in Indigenous communities.
• Developing with the National NWSN (National Women’s Shelter Network) a report on disabilities and homelessness and on shelters and wrap around services addressing critical needs.
• Developing with NHLC and partners a submission to the UN Human Rights Council on housing and homelessness.
• Facilitating a series of workshops for Red Line Service artists with lived experience of homelessness on the dimensions of the human right to housing and supporting the development of artwork for right to housing advocacy.

In all these projects, the team has distinguished themselves by consistently excellent work that goes the extra mile. For instance:

• For the report card, the students connected with community groups and conducted over a dozen high quality interviews with leading advocates, capturing key insights. These interviews have enriched not only the report card, but also other work by the clinic and partners.
• For the Haiti report, the students identified additional advocates and sources to consult and took the initiative to translate materials into French and ensure broad dissemination of the work.
• For the Red Line Service project, the students conceived and organized two exhibits on art in the right to housing: one in collaboration with community partners during Art Basel, and one at the university in conjunction with the Beaux Arts Festival.

Partners have expressed their appreciation for the high value of the students’ work, and as a testament to the students’ strong connections with the community, additional groups have reached out to them with opportunities to collaborate. The students have compellingly represented the projects at multiple public fora.  This includes at a global webinar by the Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness, a University of Miami TV elections special, and a podcast for Miami’s Haitian community.

The team of four students is very diverse, but each brings strengths lifting each other up. This includes research and writing skills, art and graphic design skills, French fluency, connections with the Haitian community, and personal experience with and passion for addressing housing insecurity. While different students lead on different project components, they do not hesitate to volunteer for additional tasks to support each other. They work together to ensure the team is well-organized and effective to produce work of the highest quality.

Outstanding Externship Students: Gregory Beason and Eyga Williamson

The Litigation Skills Externship Program is pleased to nominate Gregory Beason for the CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award as this hard-working young man has clearly fulfilled the criteria for this award. In our Litigation Skills Program, Gregory proved to be a capable and exceptional student, receiving honors in his trial workshop, where he was awarded the John M. Hogan Fund for Public Interest Litigation Scholarship Award, and in his pretrial workshop. Gregory has focused his law school career on the criminal justice system and social issues.

Greg’s exposure to public service growing up led his commitment to public service which led him to law school. As a talented law student and advocate, this naturally translated to his work in the criminal justice system. His dedication is evident. He worked as a judicial intern the Honorable Ellen Sue Venzer in the Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Criminal Division, Miami, FL, and was a Certified Legal Intern (CLI) through the Litigation Skills Externship Program at the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office summer of 2024. At the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office, he participated in, and won, three bench
trials addressing traffic offenses. After meeting the hours required for his externship, he remained with the office for an additional 150 pro bono hours, continuing to assist the county court division with victim and witness contact, jury selection, and calendar preparation for the traffic offenses and general misdemeanors. Gregory will be returning to the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office after graduation.

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Eyga Williamson is in the process of completing her second externship with the University of Miami School of Law with the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Miami. Eyga’s first Externship experience was with the Honorable Adalberto Jordan in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals during the summer after her 1L year. In both Externships, Eyga has shown incredible resourcefulness, professionalism, and drive.  Her supervisors at both placements have consistently emphasized the care with which Eyga approaches every assignment, and the interest she places in continuing her education through these experiential opportunities. Eyga is humble, ambitious, and incredibly caring, all traits which will lead to an excellent career in lawyering. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with Eyga through the years in the Externship Program and I know that she will
be an incredible success.

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Suffolk's Sierra Jamros and James Bynoe

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From Suffolk University Law School:  

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student: Sierra Jamros

Sierra Jamros, of the Family Law Clinic at Suffolk Law, exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated, compassionate, and highly skilled lawyer and juvenile defender. As an advocate for survivors of domestic violence. She put hard and efficient-work into her representation.  Whether producing thoughtful and precise legal writing or clear, confident, and persuasive oral advocacy, her advanced skills always stood out. As she approaches her work with humility and deep respect for her clients, classmates, and the court, she uses her strong emotional, procedural, and legal intelligence to represent individuals in crisis.  What also sets Sierra apart is not only her ability to handle her own, complex cases and serve victims in violence in crisis, but also support and assist her colleagues through their own restraining order hearings.  For her commitment to going above and beyond to serve her colleagues and those in need, she is well deserving of the CLEA Outstanding Student Award.

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student: James Bynoe

James Bynoe is a graduating evening student at Suffolk Law who completed an Externship at a Biotechnology Company that seeks to find cures for serious illnesses.  James was the most frequent contributor to discussions in the externship seminar and demonstrated a level of curiosity and interest that elevated class discussions. In addition, James’ journal entries consistently included constructive self-reflection with an emphasis on how he could maximize his experience, driven by a strong motivation to support his and his company’s work to find cures for serious illnesses.

 

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: St. Thomas's Monica Villanueva-Nelson and Sarah Etheridge

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From University of St. Thomas School of Law: 

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student:  Monica Villanueva-Nelson

Monica was outstanding both at advocating for her own client and in supporting her fellow students on very difficult missions while she was in the Federal Commutations Clinic. Monica visited her client early in the year and produced an outstanding clemency petition for her—it was well-written, compelling, and comprehensive. She excelled at getting the story in
whole from a client that at times was prone to distraction.  Perhaps more importantly, Monica played a key role as a servant leader in support of classmates who were taking the lead on other cases.

In addition to spending her entire third year in the Federal Commutations Clinic, Monica also was a student attorney in the Criminal and Juvenile Defense Clinic as a 2L and demonstrated many of the same qualities described above: willingness to go above and beyond her responsibilities to help her colleagues, attentiveness to client needs, and a phenomenal work ethic. Our nomination of Monica is in part a recognition that she spent half of her law school career enrolled in clinics and doing excellent work for our collective clients.

Monica quietly did great things, all within the mission of our school.

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student: Sarah Etheridge

Sarah Etheridge has been a force within the externship programs at the University of St. Thomas Law School and Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office. She has already participated in the Misdemeanor Defense and Advanced Externships and still has her entire 3L year left of law school. During her externships Ms. Etheridge has directly helped hundreds of indigent clients at various stages as their cases progress through the criminal district court and served as a peer mentor to over twenty (and still counting) fellow law students both at the Ramsey County Public Defender’s office and with successive externships. She continues to volunteer as a mentor today. Ms. Etheridge has shown excellence in her field and class work, displayed skill, intellect, and understanding in representing indigent clients in the criminal courts, fighting for their fair treatment and advocating for their interests. She has shown a deft ability to learn new skills, work in a stressful environment, and handle issues as they arise in a calm, professional manner. Ms. Etheridge’s ability to learn and think on her feet has
distinguished her as an excellent student attorney and a convincing advocate. Ms. Etheridge has shown leadership, reliability, and a sense of selfless service to the tasks that she has undertaken, the causes she has worked on, and the clients that she
represents. She repeatedly sought additional work and asked to take on more responsibilities during her externships to serve disadvantaged communities. These are some of the many reasons that Sarah Etheridge deserves this recognition.

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: UVA's Cam Moody

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From the University of Virginia School of Law: 

CLEA Outstanding Student of the Year: Cam Moody 

We are pleased to nominate Cam Moody ’25 for the CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student Award.

Cam has been a stalwart contributor to clinical work during their time at UVA. As a 1L, Cam volunteered with the Environmental Law Clinic, offering to lend their pre-law school expertise in environmental permitting. Cam then enrolled in the Environmental Law Clinic as a 2L, taking the lead in assisting a low-income family (an elderly woman and her daughter) who were challenging the permit application for an asphalt plant just 200 feet from their door. Thanks to Cam’s advocacy, the asphalt company withdrew its application. Cam was there for our clients on evenings and weekends – whether it was a public hearing or a client-organized Booker T. Washington birthday commemoration.

As a 3L, Cam continued their commitment to clinical work with the Holistic Youth Defense Clinic. Though Cam had no prior experience in youth delinquency work, they volunteered to start working on a time-sensitive case before the semester started. During the semester, Cam was a zealous advocate for youth clients and continued representing one client at an important disposition hearing after the semester had ended. Cam even offered to volunteer to represent a client at a hearing in July, when they would be studying for the bar exam!

Cam exemplified the values of community lawyering, patiently taking the time to listen to every client’s concerns.

Cam’s maturity, humility, and willingness to show up in-person for clients are why we are delighted to nominate them for this award.

https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/202505/graduating-student-seeks-be-advocate-they-never-had

2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: UC Law SF's Hilary Slauson and Natalie Dybeck

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (UC Law SF)

CLEA Outstanding Student of the Year: Hilary Slauson

Hilary has taken full advantage of the law school’s clinical offerings and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public interest work. In the Refugee & Human Rights Clinic, she went above and beyond for her client, who was granted asylum. Her clinic professors loved her so much that she even agreed to stay on for two subsequent semesters as their invaluable Teaching Assistant. In the Immigrant Rights Clinic, Hilary worked with the litigation team at the National Immigration Law Center on cutting edge cases refining her writing and research skills. Hillary also graduated with a Concentration in Social Justice Lawyering and received the 2025 Nancy Stuart Public Interest Award for her social justice activities and commitment. We know she will go on to make many meaningful contributions in the field as she embarks on her legal career!

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award: Natalie Dybeck

Natalie's performance in both the Corporate Counsel and Judicial Externship Programs demonstrated exceptional dedication, curiosity, and initiative.

At Natalie's corporate counsel placement, her supervisor praised her research and analytical abilities, highlighting her ability to integrate legal knowledge with real-world insights. In meetings, she contributed meaningfully by drawing on prior professional experience, enriching the discussion on compliance and legal procedure. She consistently demonstrated a strong desire to learn, going as far as to visit a company facility during spring break to deepen her understanding of the organization. Before each upcoming rotation, she proactively researched the relevant area of law to be better prepared, setting a high bar for engagement and initiative.

Natalie also excelled in the judicial externship program, contributing insightful reflections in the seminar and staying deeply engaged throughout the semester. She was invited to speak on a panel for first-year students preparing for judicial internships, where her experience and perspective made a strong impact.
Outside of her legal commitments, Natalie manages a baking business, impressively balancing entrepreneurial and academic demands. Her contributions in and out of the externship programs reflect a combination of excellence, humility, and drive. Natalie embodies the spirit of this award and represents the very best of clinical legal education.