Clinical Law Prof Blog

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Maryland's Nicholas Gallo and Carolyn Wetzel

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: 

Outstanding Clinical Team: Nicholas Gallo and Carolyn Wetzel

I would like to nominate Nicholas Gallo and Carolyn Wetzel for the CLEA outstanding student team award.  Nick and Carolyn were students (and partners) in the Clinic in the fall of 2023, and returned as Clinic II students in the spring of 2024.  Nick and Carolyn excelled in the seminar and classroom component of the clinic, and provided excellent representation to multiple clients in the fall.  In one case, they were assigned a case with a little over a week before trial.  They immediately began reviewing the case and meeting with the client.  Nick and Carolyn’s analysis determined that the landlord, who was trying to evict their client, was not entitled to use the statute under which the action had been filed.  Their research involved extensive review of land records, leases, and rent payment history.  Nick and Carolyn drafted a Motion to Dismiss with Prejudice, arguing that because the landlord could never be entitled to the relief sought, he should be barred from ever bringing this kind of action.  At trial, the Court thoroughly reviewed their Motion, and Nick and Carolyn explained their argument in detail.  After deliberation, the Court granted the Motion, and dismissed the action with prejudice.  Throughout their representation, and after the Court date, Nick and Carolyn were in constant communication with the client so that they could assess her goals and plans, and craft their representation to what the client wanted.  They also took extensive time to explain the law, and what the client could do going forward. 

As Clinic II students, Nick and Carolyn provided same-day representation in Baltimore City Rent Court every Friday.  Working both individually and as a team, they provided same-day representation to 15 tenants in rent court.  In some of their cases, Nick and Carolyn determined that the client had been withholding rent due to hazardous conditions in their residence.  In those cases, Nick and Carolyn would represent the client in a collateral Rent Escrow action.  Through their diligent representation, the malfeasant landlords would be ordered by the Court to make the necessary repairs.  In some cases, due to Nick and Carolyn’s persuasive argumentation, the Court would order that the Tenant was entitled to either a reduction in rent owed, or that the tenant was awarded a significant chunk of the money held in the Court’s escrow account.  Their advocacy did not change based on occasional interactions with hostile or disinterested Judges, and they firmly held their ground when pressured by either the Court or the landlord’s representative to dismiss their case or reduce their demands. 

Beyond their courtroom advocacy, Nick and Carolyn also served as mentors and instructors to the current Clinic students.  Clinic students are required to take shifts acting as same-day paralegals for the Clinic IIs.  In their role as Clinic IIs, Nick and Carolyn would effectively delegate tasks, supervise their peers, and provide active guidance for best practices, all while preparing for cases before the District Court.  They saved Matilda and I a lot of time and work in their enthusiastic and thorough work with their student peers.  Nick and Carolyn displayed excellent leadership and professionalism, and were an asset to our pedagogical program.  They also prepared and presented a Know Your Rights presentation for the UMB partnership with Lexington Market, and are currently preparing a presentation for health care providers at Kennedy Krieger in order for those providers to help notice and effectively refer patients and families that may be facing housing issues. 

Despite working with Matilda and I for an entire academic year, and representing (between both semesters) 18 clients across 20 different cases, I never once heard Nick or Carolyn complain about the workload or what we required of them.  They brought a professional, client-centered, and enthusiastic attitude to every case and every case meeting.  They treated each new client like that person was their first client, which is something unusual in legal services work.  There was a lovely moment midway through this semester when I was observing a same-day representation day, and I saw Carolyn discussing her case with the landlord’s representation, and Nick reviewing the court filing with a student paralegal.  In that moment, I realized that they were wholly comfortable in Court, that they had total command of the material and their advocacy options, and that they knew how to provide client-centered, professional representation.  All of their hard work had paid off not so much in some big case or final crescendo, but in the realization that despite being 2Ls, who 8 months ago had not so much as spoken to a client, they belonged and were attorneys.  I could go on with the various compliments and positive observations that I received from members of the bench or other tenant advocates, but I think this is long enough already. 

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Lewis & Clark's Ilona Hyatt

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 Lewis & Clark Law School:

Outstanding Clinic Student: Ilona Hyatt

Lewis & Clark Law School has awarded Ilona Hyatt the CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student Award in recognition of her exceptional work over three semesters at the Small Business Legal Clinic. Logging over 224 hours at the clinic, Ilona assisted numerous clients in reaching their goals. She helped form businesses and drafted service agreements for their use with clients. Additionally, she has been an indispensable mentor to other clinic students. Congratulations to Ilona on her graduation, and thank you for your hard work and dedication to the Small Business Legal Clinic and its clients!

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: UDC's Andrew Martell, Julian Hunter Pendarvis, Neena Qureshi and Tanner Carlson

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 UDC David A. Clarke School:

Outstanding Clinic Student and Team: Julian Hunter Pendarvis and Neena Qureshi and Tanner Carlson

The Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Clinic Student Award for exceptional clinic fieldwork and thoughtful, self-reflection in the Clinical Program is presented to Julian Hunter Pendarvis for his unparalleled work in the Tax Clinic. Hunter represented low-income clients with tax controversy matters before the Internal Revenue Service, District of Columbia, and the Comptroller of Maryland. Hunter and his clinic partner worked tirelessly to ensure that their incarcerated client received his economic impact payment. The District of Columbia Public Defender's office also worked onwith the client's criminal case and was pleased with Hunter and his clinic partner's success on the tax matter. In addition, Hunter has demonstrated the ability to handle complex tax issues and has a deep understanding of tax law. Professor Sakinah Tillman nominated Hunter describing him as “an excellent leader, highly conscientious, and deserving of this award!” Hunter says, “During my time in Tax Clinic, under the supervision of Professor Tillman, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of our tax code, and how to use it to advocate for low-income clients seeking to lower their tax liability. Clinic gave me my first real chance to practice real world advocacy skills and helped prepare me to become a zealous advocate in the future.”

The UDC David A. Clarke School of Law also presented its own UDC Outstanding Clinic Team Award to a clinical team who displayed excellence and thoughtful reflection while working collaboratively in contributing to the clinical community at the law school, legal community, and broader community. This year’s winners are Neena Qureshi and Tanner Carlson for their exceptional collaboration, client-centered lawyering, and zealous advocacy representing a detained client in a complex crimmigration and asylum case while in the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. As a team, they represented a detained client in removal proceedings. They successfully challenged the criminal grounds of their client’s removability, and valiantly fought their client’s asylum case, which is now on appeal. They exhibited client-centered lawyering and dedication to their work. They have both accepted 2-year post-graduate fellowships with the prestigious Immigrant Justice Corps, which places new graduates with organizations across the country to serve immigrants in need, particularly children.

Outstanding Externship Student: Andrew Martell

Andrew Martell received the Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Extern Award for his distinction in fieldwork and thoughtful self-reflection in his externship. He received highest honors serving at the Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor whose mission is to provide legal advice, rulemaking, and litigation to the Employment and Training Administration. A sample of his work included drafting: a response to the IRS concerning the Inflation Reduction Act; a Touhy subpoena response; and a memo addressing the use of TikTok in Federal Government programs and contracts. Andrew is dedicated to public service, completing summer internships at DC Superior Court and U.S. Congress. His academic accolades include: associate editor of Law Review, SBA Parliamentarian (he rewrote the Constitution), and student attorney in the Community Development and Whistleblower Protection Clinic; his work is acknowledged in an article on the BP Oil spill. Andrew says, “My externship at the Office of the Solicitor provided me with invaluable insight into the administrative process. Dedicated to public service, I aspire to use my experience to fight the arduous process of turning policy into law to protect and advance rights for American workers, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds.”

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: WashULaw's Margaret Min and Hillary Ping

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:

Outstanding Clinic Student: Margaret Min

Margaret Min exemplifies the value of a strong clinical legal education and is the winner of the 2024 WashULaw CLEA Award for Outstanding Clinic Student. Margaret came to WashULaw to gain the hands-on lawyering experience necessary to become a public interest attorney. In the Immigration Law Clinic, she deftly represented three asylum seeking families, utilizing trauma-informed interviewing, affidavit writing, oral advocacy, and persuasive writing skills. After completing the clinic, she carried those skills into her other classes and externships. During her final year, she conducted supervised research that produced a 65-page guidebook on asylum law in the Eighth Circuit, which will be immensely beneficial to future clinic students representing asylum seekers. Margaret plans to continue this work into her public interest career.

Outstanding Externship Student: Hillary Ping

Hillary Ping, J.D. 2024, was honored with WashULaw's Extern of the Year Award for her exceptional work at the St. Louis trial office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Committed to pursuing a career in the public sector, Hillary has dedicated her legal studies and experiential learning to advocating for workers' rights. She began her legal education at WashULaw after studying geological engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines. While in law school, she first gained valuable experience through internships with a fair housing organization and a holistic legal advocacy organization. Then, in her second summer of law school, she was awarded a Peggy Browning Fellowship and worked with Solidarity Law in Portland, Maine, focusing on employment discrimination claims. After graduation, she will continue to serve the public interest through her work with the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project in St. Louis.

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Duke's Hannah IsraelMarie and Lauryn Khaw

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 Duke School of Law: 

Outstanding Clinic Student: Hannah IsraelMarie  

Hannah IsraelMarie excelled in the Immigrant Rights Clinic and Advanced Immigrant Rights Clinic as well as leading the largest pro bono project at Duke Law. Hannah secured the lawful status of clients who had been wrongfully ordered deported, partnered with the N.C. Justice Center to submit public records requests and FOIA requests for documents on cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and oversaw pro bono projects involving more than 100 law student volunteers providing over 1,000 hours of free legal services to immigrants and refugees.  Hannah created a new partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center to assist migrants detained at the Stewart Detention Center, and volunteered over spring break in 2023 and 2024 to help secure the release of people jailed there.  In her final semester of the clinic, Hannah successfully represented her transgender Honduran client in securing a grant of asylum before an Immigration Judge with a 91.2% denial rate. Within the span of just four weeks, she finalized nearly 800 pages of pre-trial filings, which included specific and detailed individualized corroboration, multiple witness statements, medical and psychological evidence, detailed human rights and media reports, and a legal brief.  She then swiftly shifted gears to prepare her client for the final merits hearing.  Her work in every project demonstrated gold-standard representation.  Hannah has dedicated herself to public interest work through her pro bono leadership, her externships at leading immigrant rights organizations, her partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center, and her outstanding representation of clients in Duke’s clinics.  Hannah will continue serving migrant children after graduation through a two-year fellowship with the Immigrant Justice Corps.

Outstanding Externship Student: Lauryn Khaw

Lauryn has been an exemplary externship student, showing commitment not only to her work with her placement this semester, but also to the hard work of self-improvement and critical reflection that is so essential to a high-quality externship experience. This semester, Lauryn was an extern with Earthjustice, on their Sustainable Food and Farming Team. Lauryn found this placement on her own, and has been diligent and self-directed throughout the experience. Although the placement was remote, Lauren worked hard to integrate herself with the team, coming to check-ins with prepared agendas and discussion questions not only about the work, but about her colleagues as well. Her site supervisor Ashley said that she contributed immensely to the work of the team, making presentations that were accessible and informative, doing legal research that was thorough and precise, and creating work product that was helpful and professional. Lauryn was not afraid to ask questions or ask proactively for feedback, and always responded well to suggestions on how to improve her work. Lauryn was also an excellent externship seminar student, always adding thoughtful commentary to the class and showing support and encouragement for her classmates. Her reflective work showed a deep commitment to thinking about the material, and honest evaluation of how she plans to integrate her personal and professional identity as she enters the legal profession. She is going to be an excellent lawyer!

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!

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Berkeley's Grace Erger and Kat Harlow

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 Berkeley Law:

Outstanding Clinic Student: Grace Erger

Grace Erger shined in Berkeley Law’s Death Penalty Clinic, spending the year working on a case where a client could soon face execution. She developed a full-scale operation to identify, speak to, and get support from people such as correctional officers advocating for the client, resulting in 30 new witnesses willing to provide statements under penalty of perjury in a capital case. She demonstrated excellence across many projects, including organizing major investigation trips and helping write a U.S. Supreme Court cert petition in four days. Her supervisors say she has the “maturity, thoughtfulness, effectiveness, legal skill, and nuanced judgment of a seasoned lawyer — and she tops it off with endless passion and commitment to her work.”

Erger says, “I learned what it means to provide zealous, caring, and creative representation, and I learned that being in community with a group of generous, supportive, kind, and very funny people can make even the heaviest tasks a bit lighter.”

Outstanding Externship Student: Kat Harlow

While at Berkeley Law, Kat Harlow did three field placements with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, TGI Justice Project, and Transgender Law Center. She also did summer internships at EBCLC and Lambda Legal, and co-led the student-led Queer Justice Project. Harlow helped transgender youth and adults appeal disability benefits denials and legally change their name and gender, and worked on impact litigation issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community, including challenges to Florida’s Don’t Say Gay censorship law and laws targeting transgender youth. Her supervisors praise her professionalism, commitment, and curiosity, and her “smart advocacy on behalf of transgender and gender-variant communities.”

Harlow says, "Pro bono work has provided me the opportunity to give back to my community while collaborating with clients, fellow students, and supervisors that have lent me so much inspiration and support, and kept me grounded in the values that brought me to law school in the first place."

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: St. John's Marianna Sheedy

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 St. John's University School of Law: 

Outstanding Clinic Student: Marianna Sheedy

Marianna Sheedy, Class of 2024, was an amazing asset to the Tenants’ Rights Unit at New York Legal Assistance Group during her externship. At NYLAG, Marianna helped to draft HP Actions on behalf of tenants seeking repairs to their apartments, drafted motions, researched legal issues, and assisted attorneys in preparing for trials. She put a lot of effort into her research and writing which is a vital part of being an excellent attorney. Marianna was hardworking, consistently sought feedback, and always had her assignments in on time. She proved to be a dedicated advocate who will be a wonderful attorney. Marianna also excelled during the seminar portion of her externship, offering insightful and sincere reflections that were significant and contributed to fostering vibrant classroom discussion. Furthermore, Marianna's written assignments were exceptionally well-executed, and her time sheets consistently indicated her ability to handle substantive legal tasks throughout her placement. Marianna's insights and contributions were beneficial to other students in the class. She was truly an exceptional student! 

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Virginia's Ellen Florek

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: 

Outstanding Clinic Student: Ellen Florek

Ellen has been relentless in advocating for good outcomes for her clients in three clinics. In the Criminal Defense Clinic, Ellen
helped a combat veteran with PTSD get connected with veterans’ resources and avoid a mandatory jail sentence. In the Youth Advocacy Clinic, Ellen advocated on behalf of a Black high school student facing expulsion for calling school staff racist and using profanity. She demonstrated empathy and professionalism in interviewing her traumatized client and drafted a persuasive advocacy letter that led to her client’s return to school. In another disciplinary hearing, Ellen’s presentation to the school board was so compelling that the members quoted Ellen’s closing statement when announcing their decision to allow her client to return to his vocational program immediately. In the Holistic Youth Defense Clinic, Ellen’s client was denied release at a detention hearing. The youth – who had mental health needs and was in desperate need of a residential placement with services – was traumatized in detention. Ellen filed an appeal (which is uncommon for youth detention hearings) and successfully secured her client’s release on appeal, receiving private praise from the judge in chambers. Ellen prioritizes her clients and is always available to cover an unexpected hearing. In the clinic seminar, she asks probing questions about how to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the legal system and is reflective about her own biases and assumptions. She often seeks advice on how to improve her lawyering. Ellen is a zealous advocate and her work has been superlative.

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Wayne State's Fatima Elzhenni, Maria Gedris, and Natalie Rosenblatt

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 Wayne State University Law School:

Outstanding Clinic Team: Fatima Elzhenni and Maria Gedris 

Fatima Elzhenni and Maria Gedris became student attorneys in the Wayne State Law School Business and Community Law Clinic in the Fall of 2023. They formed a team to represent the Perry Outreach Center. From the start, Maria and Fatima exercised client-centered lawyering, diligence and empathy. Tracey Patterson, the President of the Center, noted, “We would not be able to continue to exist without their legal help to make us an independent organization."

Located in southwest Detroit, Michigan, the Perry Outreach Center is a food pantry and offers clothing, employment counseling, music classes and computer classes to residents in the area. After the neighborhood experienced severe economic disinvestment and loss of industry, the Center became a lifeline to neglected residents.

Patterson remarked on how Maria and Fatima’s legal assistance was crucial when infrastructure challenges threatened closure. “Everyone is on board with making sure the center doesn't die," Patterson said. Someone told us about the Wayne State law clinic… and we were accepted… They helped us go over and submit articles of incorporation. They helped us create a supervisory board and an orientation program for the board. They helped us apply for the 501(c)(3). They even helped us create a backup plan - to find a fiscal sponsor - just in case we don't get the 501(c)(3). Their work was crucial, and the stakes are high. Without them, our doors would certainly be closing this July."

The students also drafted the Center’s bylaws and organized an entrepreneurship legal workshop to empower the Center’s surrounding residents

Outstanding Externship Student: Natalie Rosenblatt

As an extern, Natalie Rosenblatt excelled in numerous ways. In Wayne Law’s Holistic Defense Externship, Natalie externed at Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit Office where she built strong relationships with her clients, advocated persuasively on their behalf, and formed lasting bonds with office colleagues. Her supervisor noted that Natalie is “extremely professional and a very hard worker.  She's also excellent in her written advocacy and very on top of projects.  She's been super flexible with helping people with multiple tasks. She’s very proactive and thorough especially with legal research.”  In class, Natalie engaged thoughtfully with the material, confronted difficult issues head-on, and always made space for her classmates to share their ideas.  

 

Additionally, in the Public Service Externship, Natalie externed at the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, where she independently composed two briefs on complex legal issues, collaborated with other students and attorneys in the office, and further developed her oral advocacy skills. Her supervisor characterized her problem solving, judgment, and writing skills as advanced, noting that she excelled in performing legal research, and was able to work independently while also seeking guidance when appropriate.  The supervisor concluded, “Natalie is a pleasure to work with and will be an asset wherever she chooses to go. It is obvious she cares about her work.”

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Ohio State's Lexi Breitenstine and Heather Van Hull

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 Ohio State University Mortiz College of Law:

Outstanding Clinic Student: Heather Van Hull

Heather has been an outstanding clinic student all year long [in the Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic]. From early on, it was apparent that she is deeply motivated by a desire to serve others. She has an impressive capacity to take on new projects and quickly and competently see them through to completion. She never balks at the scope of a project; rather, she is always eager to improve and build upon her legal skills in order to increase her impact and reach. It was a delight to work with her and Andreana as a team, and I have no doubts that she will thrive in practice.

Outstanding Externship Student: Lexi Breitenstine

 Excellence in Field Work: Lexi has participated in two externships at Moritz, one with Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Legal Services and one with the Office of the Ohio Solicitor General. Her fieldwork evaluations have been outstanding, with Lexi “exceeding” or “far exceeding” every evaluation category. Lexi’s site supervisors have described Lexi as thorough, thoughtful, helpful, enthusiastic, professional, and a hard worker. Both sites also noted how Lexi was a true team player—always going above and beyond to help whenever and however she could. Excellence in Course Work: Lexi’s commitment to personal and professional growth was also evident through her coursework. Lexi’s reflections were well-written and introspective, and she was always present and engaged during conferences with program faculty. Gratitude, growth, and grace were common themes often woven throughout Lexi’s assignments and conversations—themes she practiced daily at her externship sites and in the classroom. Finally, Lexi's confidence in her abilities grew substantially during her externships, which was a pleasure to witness.

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Syracuse's Christopher Foreman, Chezelle McDade, and Thomas Sheffield

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 Syracuse University College of Law:

Outstanding Clinic Team: Christopher Foreman and Chezelle McDade

In the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, the student attorney team of Christopher Foreman and Chezelle McDade worked together to lead a class of students who submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Van Dermark v. McDonough. The case presented important questions about the obligation of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse veterans for their out-of-pocket costs for emergency medical treatment received outside the United States. Left intact, the Federal Circuit’s decision would mean that veterans who live or travel abroad may be forced to shoulder the costs of treatment for medical emergencies occurring abroad, even though the same costs would be covered if those medical emergencies occurred in the United States. By submitting an amicus brief in support of a petition for a writ of certiorari for Mr. Van Dermark, the students not only raised issues unique to Mr. Van Dermark but also highlighted the need for clearer policies by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs covering veterans seeking medical treatment overseas.

At the beginning of the Veterans Legal Clinic Semester, attorneys from a firm in Washington, D.C. reached out to ask if the VLC would be willing to write an amicus brief in support of petitioner Mr. Van Dermark. The students took thoughtful and deliberate steps to determine if this solicitation aligned with the goals of the Veterans Legal Clinic and also if it presented an opportunity to make a more strategic impact on the veteran community. The students invited the attorneys to speak to the class to learn more about the request, and excitedly agreed to work on the amicus in addition to their assigned client caseloads.

Student attorneys Christopher Foreman and Chezelle McDade volunteered to take the lead in organizing the efforts to create a project plan to manage all the various aspects of writing an amicus brief. They collaborated extremely effectively together and established a timeline for research, writing and editing; broke the brief into appropriate sections; tasked assignments out to groups of students; scheduled routine check-ins and progress updates with their professor; and even leveraged an existing relationship with an experienced law firm to enter into a formal engagement letter for advice and counsel throughout the process.

The result was an extremely well written brief that was cited to by Mr. Van Dermark’s reply in support of his cert petition. The attorneys for Mr. Van Dermark especially appreciated the students’ thoughtful discussion of the “pro veteran canon” which instructs courts to interpret any ambiguity in federal laws concerning veterans benefits in favor of veterans. While the petition was ultimately denied, the students gained incredible insights into how to write an amicus brief and the opportunity to make a contribution to veterans law at the national level. An amazing experience for not only this team of students but the entire Veterans Legal Clinic who proudly served as amicus curiae and whose names were included in a footnote of the brief.

Outstanding Externship Student: Thomas Sheffield

Thomas has demonstrated excellence in his externship placements and seminar components through his efforts in taking placements that specifically focus on public interest and advocacy for underserved or marginalized populations, and though his conscientious attendance, reflection, and participation in the accompanying externship seminars.  Thomas completed three externships in his law school career.  His first externship was with the ACLU of Mississippi in Spring 2023.  In Fall 2023 and Spring 2024, Thomas externed at the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of New York.  Throughout these placements, Thomas continued to excel in his academic career.  Thomas’ valuable work for justice throughout his externship placements are deserving of recognition.

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Nebraska's Tavia Bruxellas McAlister and Abbey Lanzarin

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 Nebraska College of Law: 

Outstanding Clinical Student: Tavia Bruxellas McAlister

Tavia Bruxellas McAlister has been selected to receive the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Award for Outstanding Clinic Student.

The award recognizes excellence in the field work component of a clinical course determined by the quality of the student’s performance in assisting or representing individual or organizational clients or in undertaking advocacy or policy reform projects; excellence in the seminar component of a clinical course determined by the students’ thoughtfulness and self-reflection; and the nature and extent of the student’s contribution to the clinical community at the law school.

Bruxellas McAllister was nominated for her hard work, devotion, diligence, and the remarkable impact she had on the program and her clients during her time in the Immigration Clinic.

Outstanding Externship Student: Abbey Lanzarin

Abbey Lanzarin has been selected to receive the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Award for Outstanding Student in the Nebraska Law Externship Program.

The award recognizes excellence in the field work component of the externship course determined by the quality of the student’s performance in assisting or representing individual or organizational clients or in undertaking advocacy or policy reform projects; excellence in the seminar component of the externship determined by the student’s thoughtfulness and self-reflection; and the nature and extent of the student’s contribution to community at the law school, legal community, or broader community.

Lanzarin was nominated by Director of Externships Elsbeth Magilton in recognition of her genuine engagement in the educational process.

 

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Baltimore's Devante Jones and Ouranitsa Abbas

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 Student Award: Devante Jones of the Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic

Nominated by Prof. Katie Kronick and Johnny Kerr, Devante’s advocacy skills and ability to build trust with his clients are exceptional. In a case where the client’s prospects at trial seemed dim, but the plea offer was even worse, Devante won on two of three counts and convinced the judge of the fairness of halving the requested sentence. Invited back by his professors for a second semester, Devante also prepared an excellent suppression motion and ultimately negotiated a very good plea for the client. We are proud to have Mr. Devante Jones representing our law school in court and in the community.

Outstanding Externship Student Award: Ouranitsa Abbas

Nominated with enthusiasm by Prof. Neha Lall, Ouranitsa Abbas is committed to putting her principles into action through public service and by giving back to the university. Through externships with the Office of the Public Defender, the Department of Justice, and the Baltimore City Circuit Court, she eagerly engaged in the crucial lawyering skill of self-reflection and fostered a supportive learning community among her peers. As well, she participated in the Innocence Project Clinic, completed over 200 pro bono hours, and served as a tutor and academic coach. Reflecting the best of UB Law, we are pleased to honor Ms. Ouranitsa Abbas.

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Drexel's Michael Harvey Broughton and David Zisser

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 Kline School of Law: 

 

Outstanding Externship Student: Michael Harvey Broughton

Michael Harvey-Broughton’s law school experience has culminated in an outstanding externship performance with the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project and within the related externship seminar. Mr. Harvey-Broughton distinguished himself from his peers as an effective advocate for those who are imprisoned consistent with his value to serve whom he describes as the “most forgotten people that live on the margins of society.” Pursuing procedural justice, he synthesized complex legal authorities and volumes of documents with effectiveness: “His combination of intellect, thoughtfulness, and professionalism makes him stand out among law students I've supervised. If he chooses to enter the field of civil rights litigation, he would be an asset to any organization or firm in this field, and I have no doubt that he would be able to hit the ground running as a practitioner on day one,” praised his externship supervisor. For his peers within the externship seminar, Mr. Harvey Broughton leveraged his communication and reflection skills as a discussion leader and active participant on topics such as ethics, cultural competency, and the roles of lawyers; he even co-hosted a webinar, entitled “Mastering Observations for Professional Growth”. Also notable, Mr. Harvey-Broughton served the region in the Mid-Atlantic Area Consortium of Law School Externship Programs’ presentation entitled, “Making a Mentor: How to Effectively Mentor and Supervise Externship Students” offered for CLE credit; as a panelist, he addressed an audience exceeding one hundred externship supervisors. It is with a sense of pride that Mr. Harvey-Broughton can speak of his externship accomplishments.

Outstanding Clinical Student: David Zisser

We are delighted to nominate David Zisser for the CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student Award for 2023-24 based on his exceptional participation in our yearlong Community Lawyering Clinic. From the outset, David demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of gentrification and other systemic harms impacting the residents of the neighborhoods surrounding our university and the need to engage in meaningful forms of accountability and repair, especially around homeownership and affordable housing. He applied those sensibilities and his passion for social justice to every aspect of his casework and his collaborative project work. David consistently showed tremendous enthusiasm, creativity, and courage in identifying innovative solutions to novel issues. At every turn, he was highly effective in harnessing his prior knowledge and experience to inform his clinic work while also remaining open to learning new approaches.

David set the highest standards of excellence and professionalism for other students in his written work, documentation, and communications. He demonstrated strong leadership and mentoring skills while also being a great collaborator and team player. He collaborated effectively with his less-experienced teammate and showed a similar level of support and care toward every other student. We were perhaps most impressed with David’s ability to ensure his clients felt truly respected and valued while navigating often-dehumanizing legal systems. We are confident David will continue to think critically about his role as a lawyer and will use his skills and access to help address the individual and systemic injustices facing his clients and their communities.

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: UC Law SF's Gracie Winston and Jessica "Mali" Gillespie

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 Law San Francisco: 

 

Outstanding Externship Student Gracie Winston 

UC Law SF is recognizing Gracie Winston as CLEA Externship Student of the Year for their outstanding participation in two externships. Gracie was an outstanding seminar participant and community-builder in the Community Group Advocacy and Social Change Clinic as a 2L, working with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center to create outstanding community education materials and presentations on immigration law developments for immigrants, activists, and attorneys. In the Criminal Practice Clinic, they did excellent work with the Marin Public Defender’s Office and reflected insightfully on their experiences.

Outstanding Clinic Student: Jessica "Mali" Gillespie

UC Law SF is recognizing Jessica "Mali" Gillespie as CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student of the Year for her many contributions to the Clinical program at UC Law SF. Mali participated in the Refugee & Human Rights Clinic, the Lawyering for Children Practicum, the UC Law SF for Haiti Partnership, and the Immigrant Rights Clinic. All of Mali's professors agreed that she is one of the most dedicated students with whom we have ever worked. She is bright and hard-working, an excellent colleague, and an incredible and creative advocate for the clients she serves. She goes above and beyond, from learning Haitian Creole to preparing the green card application for her asylum client and her husband to serving as a Teaching Assistant to mentor other clinical students who came after her. When asked if she would take a break or a trip after taking the bar exam, Mali replied that she was going to use that last month before starting her job at the Concord Immigration Court to close out her remaining client work. That is Mali in a nutshell. Mali more than deserves this honor, and we cannot wait to see what she achieves in her future legal career!

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Loyola-LA's Emily Bernstein

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 Loyola Law School in Los Angeles:

Outstanding Clinical Student: Emily Bernstein

Loyola Law School is proud to nominate Emily Bernstein as Loyola’s 2024 Outstanding Clinic Student for her work in the Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic.

Emily Bernstein embodies the fearless, compassionate, client-centered approach the Loyola Social Justice Clinics stand for. From the moment she joined the Justice for Atrocities Clinic, she was unafraid to be vulnerable, and in doing so, empathized exceptionally well with the vulnerabilities of her clients—a young woman from Ukraine, the only survivor of a brutal Russian attack that killed all members of her immediate family, and an elderly Holocaust survivor who reminded Emily of her grandmother. Establishing these human connections with her clients further fueled Emily’s drive to go above and beyond for them by conducting multiple client interviews that far surpassed standard work expectations, chasing down every research lead, and using her “spare” time to hone her thoughts in ways that substantially strengthened arguments. Indeed, her passion for assisting her client led her to sign up for an additional semester in the clinic so she could continue to strengthen the legal brief to the European Court of Human Rights.

Emily’s empathetic approach extended to her clinic colleagues. In class, she was a creative thinker and reliable, supportive presence. Her colleagues praised her dedication, professionalism, positive and friendly demeanor, and tireless work ethic.

It is no surprise that Emily went on to intern this past fall for the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Department of Justice—the original “Nazi hunters” and the office tasked with investigating and prosecuting human rights violators and international criminals.

 

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: St. Mary's Fanisleidy Martin-Rodriguez and Rocio Moncivais

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 St. Mary’s University School of Law: 

 

Outstanding Clinic Student Award: Fanisleidy Martin-Rodriguez

Fanny was a champion for her Family Law Clinic clients and the children in her amicus cases.  She worked tirelessly to prepare her cases for trial. Whether reviewing hundreds of pages of documents, conducting hours-long interviews with numerous witnesses, or spending evenings and weekends for nearly a month preparing for final trial, she showed an uncommon level of commitment and dedication. Her work in clinic did not end there, though. She was a constant source of help and encouragement to her clinic classmates. She was always available to play the role of witness when her classmates needed to practice preparing their witness or conducting a direct or cross examination. Fanny is also a notary, and she would frequently volunteer to visit any client’s house who was homebound to notarize a needed document. She also took the lead in reviewing the Family Law Clinic intake phoneline. She would conduct brief intakes of anyone seeking our legal services, summarize those interviews, and present them to the director of the Family Law Clinic to determine which cases would be accepted. Fanny provided additional insight for each intake, which helped the director make the difficult decision of which cases to take and which to refer out. Throughout, Fanny’s confidence in her abilities grew exponentially.  Two professors in Fanny’s advocacy class noticed her increased confidence following her great performance at a clinic case trial. They commented that she almost had a swagger, when before she had seemed insecure. That’s the power of clinic!

 

Outstanding Externship Student Award: Rocio Moncivais

Rocio completed two Externships including one at the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. With her student practice card, Rocio set a goal to develop her litigation skills by supporting the attorneys in her unit to prepare for their hearings and represent Travis County in court. Beyond the usual research and trial prep, she successfully handled a felony plea, sentencing, and protective order hearing. Her site supervising attorneys found she excelled in communication in court and in working with victims outside the courtroom. In her final evaluation from her supervising attorneys, Rocio was praised for going “above and beyond” in her professionalism, effectively prioritizing, and collaborating with the team. She impressed them with her ability to work well both in-person and remotely, which highlights her ability to pivot and still exceed expectations. As her faculty supervisors, we observed the same high level of engagement in the Externship curriculum. She invested energy in reflecting on her challenges and skill development throughout the semester. It was evident in our fruitful one-on-one discussions and in the reflective process she demonstrated in her essays, Rocio spent her semester seeking and integrating feedback, asking questions, experimenting with new systems, and examining the role she would play in the justice system after graduation. We are proud to award her this year’s highest honor in our course.

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: IU Maurer's Amani Khoury

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 Indiana University Maurer School of Law:

Outstanding Clinical Student: Amani Khoury

It is our great pleasure at Conservation Law Center to nominate Amani Khoury. Amani has been a stellar colleague and student leader at CLC over the past two years. Her work product consistently demonstrates excellence in legal research, writing and analytical abilities. She received the highest grade in the clinic in her first year with us and we were so impressed with her that we invited her back to be a “junior attorney” with student oversight responsibilities this year. In that role, she has been incredibly helpful to the Clinic’s senior attorneys with ongoing cases and teaching. She has been an outspoken and professional student leader in both small group and large clinic settings. And, she demonstrates genuine interest in helping her fellow students succeed. As junior attorney at CLC, Amani is tasked with helping to oversee student work on multiple projects, including cases active litigation. That requires her to have an in-depth understanding of the facts and law of each case, review and provide feedback on student work, and host office hours at least twice a semester. We are confident that Amani is well on her way to becoming an outstanding attorney and she is, without a doubt, a model for what law students should aim to achieve when participating in a law school clinic.

2024 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: San Francisco's Alondra Saldivar and Monica Chinchilla

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. 

The University of San Francisco School of Law is proud to recognize two outstanding students this semester with the Clinical Legal Education Association’s Outstanding Clinical Student and Outstanding Externship Student awards. 

Outstanding Clinical Student: Alondra Saldivar

In the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic Alondra is representing a man from Nicaragua in an asylum claim based on his political opinion and LGBTQ status. Throughout her time in the Clinic, Alondra has demonstrated compassion and flexibility with her client, who was ill and had to cancel several appointments. She put in the time to build trust so that her client, initially hesitant to open up about his life, was able to share. Alondra prepared a detailed declaration for her client and her country conditions research to support the asylum claim was excellent. A consummate team player who is always willing to collaborate, Alondra assisted with countless translations and employment authorization document applications for other clients of the clinic. Additionally, over the past year, Alondra has been active in the Clinic's Unaccompanied Children Assistance Program (UCAP). She personally mentored and counseled three youth who had been arrested for selling drugs. Through her regular oversight over a period of months, the youth thrived; Alondra got them enrolled in school and afterschool programs, and the San Francisco District Attorney's Office ultimately decided to drop all charges. Alondra, along with the other students in the Clinic, also participated in an asylum filing clinic in Sonoma county working to prepare and file over 20 asylum applications with Clinic students and staff for individuals on the Clinic’s waitlist who are approaching the one-year filing deadline for asylum relief.

Outstanding Externship Student: Monica Chinchilla

Throughout her externship, Monica demonstrated high capability, growth mindset, and commitment to professional development. At Tyz Law, a firm primarily specializing in intellectual property protection and enforcement, Monica enthusiastically took on many new projects and showed great passion for learning. Monica’s supervisor found her to always be prepared and able to contribute thoughtful insights. She was also receptive to feedback, actively seeking it out to help improve her abilities. She performed nuanced legal research in many new areas, proving herself to be skilled both at research and analysis and applying the law to clients’ issues. Her work was thorough and insightful. Monica worked especially hard on cultivating a growth mindset, focusing on each new task or skill as a learning experience. In addition to her excellent work, she was highly professional, poised, diligent, kind, and approached her work with a good balance of seriousness and sense of humor. Overall, she demonstrated that she has the tenacity, insight, and intellectual curiosity to be a strong advocate. In the seminar component of the program, Monica put demonstrable time and effort into her contributions to the class, sharing her reflections and stimulating open and inclusive class discussion. Monica was also an outstanding student in the Internet and Intellectual Property Justice Clinic during her second year of law school in Spring 2023.