2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Utah's Ashley DelBalzo, Caitlin Imhoff, and Olivia McQuarrie

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 Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law:

 

Outstanding Clinic Team: Ashley DelBalzo, Caitlin Imhoff, and Olivia McQuarrie

Ashley, Cait, and Olivia collaborated closely with the Environmental Justice Clinic’s community partners in Navajo Nation this academic year. As Clinic students in the fall semester, they excelled in all aspects of the course: they immersed themselves in simulations and role-play exercises; reflected deeply on the challenges and rewards of community-based advocacy work; and engaged in fieldwork with compassion, integrity, and keen attention to detail. As Advanced Clinic students in the spring, they worked with indigenous community partners who are fighting a major energy development project on their lands. Ashley, Cait, and Olivia presented their research at community meetings, drafted advocacy materials, and worked alongside our community partners to help organize and mobilize affected residents. Their work empowered community members, equipping people with key tools to advocate for justice vis-à-vis their elected officials as well as polluting companies. Ashley, Cait, and Olivia worked as a team extremely effectively, developing sophisticated skills in coordination, communication, and collaborative problem-solving. Over the course of the academic year, they learned to embrace the uncertainty that is often part and parcel of community-driven work. As the shape and goals of their project shifted over time, they consistently rose to the challenge of shifting their approach accordingly, even when it was frustrating to do so. The Clinic as well as its community partners will greatly miss Ashley, Cait, and Olivia as they embark on their careers. We know they’ll continue to shine!