Clinics 50th Anniversary: Alum Profiles

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Associate

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

"The Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic (SBCEDC) afforded me the opportunity to figure out my initial identity as a practicing attorney. Having my own clients, and the autonomy to provide recommendations or make decisions with respect to their matters, while having appropriate oversight, enabled me to try out different communication styles and learn multiple approaches with respect to client interaction, many of which I still use to this day."

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

"The SBCED was an opportunity to learn corporate and transactional skills that are, for the most part, glossed over in doctrinal classes. Having the opportunity to review and draft organizational documents and other transactional-based agreements, review corporate-based government filings, and generally think about how situations affect the long term strategy and viability of an entity (as opposed to how the law applies to a specific set of facts to be fleshed out in court), set me up with skills that I used from my first day as a corporate attorney, and still use toda

Rising for Justice (formerly Law Students in Court)

Small Business Administration, Office of Hearings and Appeals, Attorney Advisor, Government Contracts

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“The Rising for Justice (Clinic) was my first trial experience in a courthouse setting.  I learned the basics of trial litigation including investigations, document collection, case review, case management, and issue spotting. I was also given the opportunity to draft litigation specific documents including interrogatories, requests for production, motions to dismiss, and motions for summary judgment. My experience from Clinic allowed me to be a successful staff attorney with Maryland Legal Aid (MLA). During my time at that nonprofit, I worked closely with low-income individuals and the elderly. I conducted client interviews and provided legal advice. I also prepared cases and represented clients in negotiations, hearings, trials, and appeals. Because of my Clinic experience, I went into the position having a base understanding of investigative work. Specifically, (1) how to ask vital questions from your client, (2) how to collect important facts, (3) how to issue spot, and (4) how to apply real world facts to the law. I continue to use the case management and investigative tools learned in Clinic in my current career as well.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“One thing I learned in the Rising for Justice (formerly DC Law Students in Court) (Clinic) that I could not otherwise learned in a doctrinal classroom is the practical side of litigation work. Specifically, (1) client management, (2) communicating effectively with individuals of varying backgrounds, (3) asking the right questions, (4) organizing/managing case load and clients, and (5) negotiating/advocating for your client’s best interest. These are all vital fundamentals to being a great litigator. Clinic stressed the importance of keeping track of your clients and your case load. This skill is only teachable in a real life (or clinical) setting.”

Prisoner & Reentry Clinic

Equal Justice Under Law, Staff Attorney

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“The Prisoner & Reentry Clinic changed the course of my life. One of the cases I took on as a clinical student so impacted me that I resumed representation after I was barred and spent the next 5 years getting the client free from prison and then off of supervised release. I co-counseled with my current employer on that case and it has greatly contributed to why I am a prison abolitionist now. I still use the client interviewing and navigating prison bureaucracy skills I learned in the clinic (that were refined in other roles).”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“How to navigate the lives of real human beings. How difficult it is to represent someone who is incarcerated and how you have to balance your responsibility to your client with the reality that it's much easier to talk to their family. How the system makes you plead for someone's humanity and how gross that feels, but at the same time, how rewarding it is to let someone know you are fighting for them. How the law isn't about justice but about power. How “crossing your t's” and “dotting your i's” can be the difference between victory and (temporary) defeat.”

Family Justice Litigation Clinic (formerly Civil and Family Law Clinic)

City of Los Angeles, Workers’ Compensation Division, Deputy City Attorney II

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity? 

“The Family Justice Litigation Clinic improved my writing and litigation skills and really enhanced my ability to issue spot and try cases.  The training I received laid the groundwork for what I do today.  It also helped me to get involved with my California Lawyers Association and engage in pro bono work.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“I learned some grammar skills I had missed in school. I learned to avoid writing in the passive voice and it’s the big thing I teach my interns now. Funny, I get annoyed when I see people write in the passive voice.”

Immigration Clinic

Ogletree Deakins, Associate, Immigration

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“I work in business immigration where my clients are corporations. I assist their employees in getting work authorizations, green cards, etc. I interact with the employees through email, and most of the time it’s just a faceless name working for a faceless company. However, my time in the Immigration Clinic imparted the humanity and empathy of this work. With that perspective, I try each day to help alleviate the stress and anxiety that people are experiencing trying to navigate this often backwards, exasperating system so they continue to build their lives here, pay their bills, have their kids go to school here, and share in the beauty and diversity of our country.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“While you can learn every minutia of a practice area to death, the clinic experience lets you get down and dirty. Real-life application with real people and real consequences. You can explore facets and niches and see where it takes you. In the Immigration Clinic, I had the chance to role-play as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorney in a mock hearing with one of our clients, work on a case involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation and sting operations, and help people get green cards and work authorization. Clinic is one of the most formative and important parts of a law school experience that every aspiring attorney should have the opportunity to participate in.

Rising for Justice (formerly Law Students in Court)

Grenier Law Group PLLC

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Law students in Court made me the lawyer I am today. It taught me to be client-centered and always want to use my legal career to help individuals most in need.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“My clinic experience gave me invaluable in-court and active litigation experience with real stakes that I could not have gotten anywhere else. It was a tremendous leg up in my career, and I use the skills I learned in clinic every day at my current job.”

Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic (formerly International Human Rights Law Clinic)

U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division, Attorney Advisor

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Going into clinic, I was not very confident in my client-centered skills or oral advocacy skills, never having worked with a real client before or participated in any skills boards. However, along with my partners I developed interviewing, counseling, and oral skills that made a difference in real clients' cases, and I had the opportunity to present often in class. This has aided my professional confidence in my legal skills and judgements today. I also carry substantive knowledge of human rights law and civil rights law, as well as an intersectional perspective approach into my work today, which is national-security focused.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“It would have been impossible for me to imagine what real client work is like without doing clinic (both in terms of my real casework as well as client simulations in the course). Specifically, one thing I learned is that the lawyer is often not always right; a major challenge of client-centered work is creating a foundation of trust so that the lawyer can help the client communicate what they want and need, even if it is not an approach the lawyer would personally take. It is very easy to get caught up in abstract theory in doctrinal classes without understanding how law impacts individual people and communications, or become accustomed to clean case law at the appellate and Supreme Court levels that cuts out the practical, emotional, and procedural realities of real legal work.”

Public Justice Advocacy Clinic

Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Assistant Public Defender in the Post Conviction Defenders' Division

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity? 

“Participating in the Public Justice Advocacy Clinic for my 3L year solidified my commitment to direct client services, and I learned invaluable oral advocacy, client communication, and case management skills. My clinical experience shaped me into the public servant I am today.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes? 

“In clinic, I learned to listen to and advocate for clients. As a public defender, my duty is to represent my clients and that job entails a lot more than just knowing the law - I have to know my clients to best apply the law to their cases. Clinic taught me how to center my clients in every step of litigation.”

Immigration Clinic

Zeman and Petterson, PLLC, Associate Attorney

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity? 

"The Immigration Clinic showed me how to practice immigration law ethically and how to stay humble. In the clinic, I quickly realized that I knew very little about immigration law, which convinced me to continually increase my knowledge base and be willing to learn from others.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes? 

"How to conduct myself in court and how to deal with clients. Specifically, how to go to court prepared and treat clients as human beings by not assuming anything about them."

Criminal Appeals and Post-Conviction Services (formerly Federal, Criminal, and Appellate), Family Justice Litigation Clinic (formerly Civil and Family Law Clinic)

DC Volunteer Lawyers Project - Domestic Violence and Family Law, Policy and Appeals, ​​Supervising Attorney

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“The clinics that I engaged in as a law student were fundamental to my development as an attorney. My time in the Family Justice Litigation Clinic provided my first real opportunity to serve clients, and to advocate for others inside a courtroom, specifically those who have experienced domestic violence. The Criminal Appeals and Post Conviction Services Clinic provided me with my first opportunity to tackle an appeals case head on, from beginning to end. Each of these experiences was essential to my development as an attorney.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“The Family Justice Litigation Clinic provided me with invaluable training in trauma-informed advocacy, a skill that is not taught in any doctrinal class. I use these principles every day when I represent survivors of domestic violence, and I know that I am a better advocate because of the training I received. The Criminal Appeals and Post-Conviction Services Clinic provided me with an incredible foundation in legal research and writing - one that I could not have received in a doctrinal class. I had the opportunity to go through every step of an appeal from start to finish, including numerous drafts of appellate briefs, an experience that simply would not be possible in a doctrinal class.”

Rising for Justice (formerly Law Students in Court)

Project Guardianship, Staff Attorney

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity? 

"I have always been committed to pursuing a career in public interest law but being a part of Rising for Justice exposed me to the challenges associated with working as a practicing attorney. I learned to work closely with clients, draft motions, and plan for trial, but most importantly, I learned not just to accept the status quo because that's the way things have always been done. I was inspired to not only work within the existing system but to challenge the structures in place."

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

"I had the opportunity to work closely with an individual suffering from fairly severe mental health challenges. I visited this individual in jail when they were being detained awaiting trial and learned how to build and develop rapport with clients. The same skills that I employed as part of the clinic, have translated to the work I do today."

Health Rights Law Clinic, Public Justice Advocacy Clinic

Robinson & Cole LLP, Associate, Business Transactions

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“My work at the clinic fundamentally shaped who I am and the kind of lawyer who I want to be. Shortly after I joined my current firm, I became one of the first attorneys at the firm to provide pro bono representation for Afghan nationals in humanitarian parole applications.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Client-service skills.”

Vaccine Injury Litigation Clinic

Martin & Jones PLLC, Associate Attorney (Professional Negligence, Medical Malpractice, and Vaccine Injury)

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity? 

“Practicing in the GW Law Vaccine Injury Litigation Clinic gave me the encouragement and tools necessary to pursue a career I am passionate about - assisting plaintiffs and petitioners in pursuing legal action when they have been harmed in a medical context. My experience impacted my professional identity so much so that it led me to assist in building out a vaccine injury practice at my firm now, Martin & Jones PLLC.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Vaccine Injury Litigation is so niche that it was never covered outside of my work in the GW Law Vaccine Injury Litigation Clinic. Learning about the Vaccine Program while still in law school, and practicing in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims while still a student, made me confident and capable in my subsequent clerkship at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and as an attorney at Martin & Jones PLLC.”

Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic (formerly International Human Rights Law Clinic)

Covington & Burling, LLP, Senior Associate, International Arbitration

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Participating in the Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic gave me my first exposure to what it truly means to be a lawyer practicing in the field of international disputes.  I had the chance to consider the interaction of international and domestic law, apply those legal standards to the complex web of facts supporting the position of my client, and begin to learn how best to manage an attorney-client relationship.  In practice, I have continued to build upon that base.  My clinic  experience as a student was an invaluable first taste of what I do today.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?  

“My participation in the International Human Rights Clinic at GW Law provided me with the excellent opportunity to view international law in practice.  What I had seen theoretically in my law courses came alive as I met clients and witnesses, heard their real-life stories, sifted through the documentation of their experiences, and learned how to weave all of those elements together into a clear and compelling narrative seeking adequate justice for the wrongs they suffered.”

Family Justice Litigation Clinic (formerly Civil and Family Law Clinic)

Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Assistant Attorney General/Charles F.C. Ruff Fellow

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

"The Family Justice Litigation Clinic reaffirmed my long-term commitment to increasing access to justice in the civil legal system. Litigating a civil case can be a long, expensive, and confusing process. People, especially lower-income populations, need strong advocates to help them navigate this system."

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

"The most important thing I learned in Clinic is how to act as an attorney. Being a student attorney, my actions had tangible consequences. I wasn’t working through hypotheticals or shadowing a supervisor as an intern. I was the attorney."

Health Rights Law Clinic

Former Prosecutor, Bronx County District Attorney Office

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Practical experience, advocacy skills, interviewing skills, and a close working relationship with the professor.”

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom,  Associate (Tax)

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“My experiences in the Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic have been integral to my practice. I chose the clinic because of my interest in business formation. Although I don’t practice in this space daily, I have used my experiences drafting articles of incorporation, bylaws, and various policies to help form non-profit organizations on a pro bono basis. I have provided my pro bono clients with governance advice and helped them apply for federal and state tax-exempt status. The experience of working with non-profits has become a part of my legal practice and has led to me serving on a local organization’s board of directors.

The clinic helped hone my interpersonal skills of effective interviewing by understanding a client's goals and purpose. I have translated those skills to interview witnesses and extract essential information for expert depositions to asylum applicants. The clinic provided me with a safe place to learn and practice lawyering before entering the legal community.

Additionally, my family and friends have benefited from my experience. I have been able to walk friends and family through key questions that may arise when wanting to copyright or trademark a word or name. The clinic diversified my knowledge, which has allowed me to help them ask the right questions when looking for qualified counsel in this space.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“My doctrinal classes did not teach me how to conduct an effective interview. Leading a person through a story is an art that is only developed by practice. Having the opportunity to practice this skill in clinic has been integral to not only information gathering, but also story development in my cases. As Clinic students, we were responsible for client intake and necessary follow-up for the entities we were forming. A good intake guided our research, highlighted potential pitfalls, and allowed for targeted follow-up. In practice now, the arguments I make rely on the facts we have obtained, and so are only as good as the data we have. An effective interview provides for the same issue spotting and later follow-up to ensure an air-tight defense.”

Family Justice Litigation Clinic (formerly Civil and Family Law Clinic)

Children’s Legal Services of San Diego, Attorney

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity? 

“The clinic was without a doubt the best experience I had training for what being an actual attorney would encompass, and I encourage all students to participate. Family Justice Litigation Clinic specifically, led by phenomenal faculty, inspired me to be a better advocate and professional overall - instilling me with skills, values, and drive while fulfilling my goals of actually making a difference in my client’s life.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“What practicing would actually look like - including trial skills, negotiating skills, and the overall work ethic and drive that it takes day by day as an actual legal representative.”

Public Justice Advocacy Clinic

Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP, Associate, Employment and Public Interest Litigation

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Professor Gutman and my classmates modeled how to be consummate professionals and good colleagues. Most law school classes focus on getting the "right" answer. In the Public Justice Advocacy Clinic, I learned how to do the work the "right" way—with compassion for my clients, a collaborative attitude with my colleagues, an eye for detail, and a resoluteness in making justice happen.”

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic

Meta Platforms, IP Counsel

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“My experience as a student attorney for the Small Business and Community Economic Development Clinic taught me firsthand how to work with and communicate with clients.  I often felt like an in-house attorney/business advisor for our clients and that wonderful experience inspired me to be an in-house IP attorney.  I use many of the skills that I learned in clinic in my work today.”

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Partner, Registered Funds and Asset Management M&A

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“My clinic experience helped me develop processes and tools that I use in my practice every day. It was a fantastic way to learn some foundational elements of being a corporate lawyer.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“One of the most important things that my clinic experience taught me was what types of questions to ask clients to extract the information necessary to do a fulsome legal analysis on their issues.”

Vaccine Injury Litigation Clinic; Criminal Appeals and Post-Conviction Services (formerly Federal, Criminal, and Appellate)

Foley & Lardner, LLP, Associate, Business Litigation & Dispute Practice Group

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“What I learned in clinic has impacted my overall professional identity in several ways.  First, Clinic gave me the skills, experience, and confidence to represent clients in open court and to manage client expectations.  Second, clinic taught me to anticipate and undermine the arguments of the opposing side before they even make them.  And third, clinic taught me the importance of pro bono work and the huge impact that attorneys in the public sector, in particular public defenders, have in our communities.  Overall, clinic was the most valuable experience I got in law school.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“The clinic taught me how to be an effective and persuasive advocate in situations where the law or the facts are not the most favorable to the client's position.  Unlike the fact patterns we learn about in our doctrinal classes, the issues our clients face most often do not have straightforward solutions.  Indeed, we often have to look for ways to compare our facts to completely different scenarios, and distinguish our client's facts from cases that at first glance might seem very similar.  Clinic taught me the skills necessary to do this effectively.”

Family Justice Litigation Clinic (formerly Civil and Family Law Clinic)

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“I struggled with imposter syndrome a lot more before my clinic experience. The clinic was the first time I actually believed that I could legitimately be an attorney. The first time standing before a judge and standing on behalf of a client was as terrifying as it was rewarding. With detailed feedback every step of the way from a knowledgeable professor I felt prepared to represent our client. I was scared of my first trial experience, and I am sure I am not the only one. It is likely a rite of passage, but having it be with the Clinic gave me relief. Professionally, it has come up in every single interview that I have had with employers. Once you have done clinic you can speak the language of the litigator, and the employers notice that.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes? 

“The facts matter more than they seem to matter in doctrinal classes and are not always readily apparent. You have to work with your client and touch on sensitive issues, which normally only occurs when you have built a level of trust with your client. The clinic also taught me the logistics of litigation, how to access court documents from the clerk, how to prepare and serve subpoenas, how to prepare and file evidence with a court, the flexibility required to meet your client on their time, how every meeting will not be legally informative but could still be productive because it develops a level of trust for the next meeting, how to discern a client's interests and goals, and how to introduce evidence when my stomach was in my chest. The clinic also taught me how to foster relationships with other participants in litigation.  It taught me how to deal with opposing counsel, pro se litigants. clerks, judges, and witnesses.”

Public Justice Advocacy Clinic

Squire Patton Boggs, Associate Attorney, Labor & Employment

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity? 

“My service as a student attorney in the Public Justice Advocacy Clinic has kept me mindful of the fact that the protection of the law means little without access to it. To that end, I seek opportunities to help those without access to a lawyer whenever possible.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes? 

“I learned that your ability to succeed on behalf of your clients depends less on your mastery of doctrinal nuances than on your ability to navigate bureaucracy and effectively make use of all available procedural tools.”

Prisoner & Reentry Clinic

Children’s Rights, Senior Staff Attorney

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“I always knew I wanted to practice in the public interest world. When I told Professor Steinberg that I was going to start my career in Big Law, she counseled me to seek out pro bono opportunities to serve clients in a direct legal service capacity. In the Prisoner & Reentry Clinic, was able to build that skill set and knowledge base alongside my corporate litigation experience to ultimately transition back to public interest work.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“In my clinic, I learned what actual legal work entailed. I learned how to listen to clients tell us their lived experiences, and then how to take their stories and effectively communicate the relevant details to an adjudicator.”

Public Justice Advocacy Clinic

The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, Staff Attorney, Public Benefits Unit

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“My clinic experience directly impacted how I've started out my legal career post-law school. I knew coming into law school I wanted to do public interest work, but I was not sure exactly how I would do it. I joined the Public Justice Advocacy Clinic my second semester of 3L year and out of all my other public interest experiences, the type of work we did at the clinic  -- helping low-income residents and workers in DC exercise their rights to get the money and services they need -- was exactly what I was looking for. Through my experience, I got to directly work with clients and work closely with them to help with their wage or ID issues, which can involve really personal or sensitive topics and stories. It remains a very humbling and unique experience to get to know people to such extent and to be trusted with that kind of vulnerability. The clinic helped me to learn that a lawyer can do much more than write and argue in front of a judge but also sit with a neighbor, hear their story, and be trusted to take on some of their load.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“I began to learn (as I am still learning every day) how to actually be a lawyer. I think Professor Gutman and the clinic not only taught the basics, like how to submit an exhibit list or how to draft a demand letter (I still sometimes look at some of Prof Gutman's comments on old assignments when I draft something for work), but also taught me how to be an empathetic lawyer and to really act in service of clients. I really have such admiration for Professor Gutman who is so smart (how else do you teach civil procedure?) and poised and was always able to perfectly explain even the most complicated wage calculations to a client or kindly re-direct a client who went off topic to answer a question. I really value getting to watch Professor Gutman's hearing prep, communication style, and overall approach to lawyering. I certainly was not able to get this in-depth of a look into a professor in action in my doctrinal classes.”

Immigration Clinic

Assistant Director of the Anti-Racial Profiling Project, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (Anti-Racial Profiling, Immigration & Civil Rights)

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“The clients that I represented in the Immigration Clinic have stayed with me throughout my professional career and will stay in my heart forever. My time at Clinic gave me the fortitude I needed to be a strong advocate for those who have faced trauma, are vulnerable, and needed compassion and care above all else. The people I was able to help in clinic taught me the importance of diverse voices within the legal community, and how our own vulnerabilities can create safe spaces for those who have faced trauma.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“In clinic, I was able to have practical experience in representing clients. I was given the tools and guidance to advocate for immigrants and help them navigate a very complicated system. Unlike doctrinal classes, I needed to use my skills for cases that had real-life ramifications. With these skills, I was able to win a grant of asylum for a mother and daughter, and work on other cases to help others.”

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic

Leighton Legal Group, LLC, Managing Director

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“I learned how much Clients benefit when their professional advisors communicate and collaborate with each other.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes? 

“I learned that clients want to know "how to" rather than all the complexities of the applicable law. They do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic

Goodwin Procter LLP, Associate, Private Equity

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Clinic created a foundation of client-centric lawyering that carries through to my practice today. Practicing in the clinic setting encouraged me to identify and prioritize each client’s distinct goals and concerns in a way that continues to inform my approach in a law firm setting.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes? 

“Clinic provided a real-word practice setting that cannot be found in doctrinal classes and prepared me to practice at a law firm. The intangible aspects of lawyering (client management, accountability, and professional communication) truly come into focus in the clinic setting.”

Criminal Appeals and Post-Conviction Services (formerly Federal, Criminal, and Appellate)

Oversight Counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity? 

“A great deal of legal work can be totally abstract and detached from the lives of everyday people. My experience representing an individual in clinic has reminded me to stay grounded and think through how my work as a lawyer can make a positive difference in people's lives.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes? 

“Understanding the facts of a case is just as important as understanding the law, if not more important.”

Rising for Justice (formerly Law Students in Court)

DC Superior Court, Law Clerk to Judge Jason Park

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“The Rising for Justice Clinic was an invaluable experience for me. Not only was it my first experience representing real clients and working with them to draft discovery and court documents, but it also showed me what a difference you can make as a lawyer by representing those in need. I will forever be thankful to Rising for Justice and GW Clinics for allowing me to offer free representation to tenants at risk of eviction even before graduating law school.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“I learned how to actually draft court documents and appear before the Court for hearings. In clinic, I represented a tenant during an evidentiary hearing where I direct-examined and cross-examined real witnesses. This experience gave me confidence going into the legal profession after school because I was able to practice litigation skills before graduating!”

Immigration Clinic

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta, Litigation Staff Attorney

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“It jump started my career and gave me the skills I needed to succeed early on, particularly in my clerkship and direct services work.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“How to work with clients.”

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic

Basel PLLC, Managing Attorney (Community Development & Antitrust Law)

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“The Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic taught me the fundamentals of “why” and “how” to keep clients and their communities at the center of my legal practice — and those lessons still guide my firm today.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Where do I start! The most practical thing I learned in clinic was how to draft a contract — but the most important thing was how important it is to ‘learn and grow’ from and with your team.”

Immigration Clinic

Arent Fox Schiff LLP, Associate

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“The Immigration Clinic impacted my overall professional identity by fostering my interest in immigration law and helping me develop skills to practice in that field. Although I am real estate attorney, I use the majority of my pro bono time on immigration matters including spending some time working at family detention center in South Texas. This year I was selected by the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia (HBA-DC) to be a co-leader of the Public Service Committee and hope to continue supporting immigration initiatives.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Professors Benítez and Vera brought what we learned in the classroom to life. Their mentorship helped give me confidence in my skills as a young attorney and taught me to think outside of the box when analyzing legal issues.”

Family Justice Litigation Clinic (formerly Civil and Family Law Clinic)

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s National Racial Equity Initiative (Policy), Director

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“I navigated through law school quite unsure of my path but knew I wanted to help people—real people. Clinic positively shaped my law school journey by giving me invaluable, hands-on experience to do meaningful work and provide critical legal services to underserved communities. While I don’t devalue the importance of traditional, doctrinal courses, I do believe that learning in practice and context outweighs the former. The opportunity to argue before a judge as a law student made me a much more confident advocate and gave me a better understanding of the law. I learned how to effectively engage with clients, courts, agencies, and other stakeholders. Professionally, clinic confirmed my interest in the public sector and validated my ability to succeed.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“My doctrinal courses taught me how to issue spot, but Clinic taught me how to problem-solve.”

Immigration Clinic

Human Rights Campaign, Litigation Counsel (Impact Litigation)

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“The Immigration Clinic allowed me to gain the experience needed to hit the ground running when I started working. I required far less training than some of my peers and was therefore given much more responsibility quickly. This has really helped me in job interviews, but also in asking for raises and promotions because I could point to more concrete experience earlier in my career.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Clinic really expanded my ability to collaborate with other attorneys which has served me really well. There aren't many "group projects" in law school classes, so it was great to work within a team which is much more reflective of the working world. Also, I learned a lot about working with clients that wouldn't have been possible without a clinic experience.”

Criminal Appeals and Post-Conviction Services (formerly Federal, Criminal, and Appellate)

Lexpat Global Services, Senior Attorney & Managing Director

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Clinic work develops empathy you can’t get from casebooks. You may sympathize with a party’s story told in a given fact pattern, but you’re still miles away from the human experience. Words on a page teach concepts and, perhaps, context. The Criminal Appeals and Post-Conviction Services Clinic taught me how to connect with clients.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Doctrinal courses teach legal scholarship. But knowing the law is different from knowing how to practice law (including roles & limits of counsel), which differs still from the business of legal practice. The Clinical Program teaches how to be a practitioner, complete with real consequences.”

Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic (formerly International Human Rights Law Clinic)

Assistant Corporation Counsel, Special Federal Litigation, New York City Law Department

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Working on the Data Privacy Project of the then-International Human Rights Law Clinic allowed me to further craft an interest in the use of emerging technologies by authoritarian and repressive regimes. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to advise a thinktank on crafting a model omnibus privacy bill in the U.S. Although I knew that I wanted to become a litigator, the ability to advise and monitor the regulatory landscape in human rights and privacy opened up a new potential career path that I remain excited to explore.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“The ability to apply concepts - even the most archaic - to "real-life" scenarios has been an unparalleled experience. For example, although I had taken multiple international human rights courses, Clinic allowed me to advise clients on the proper recourse in obtaining their day in court. Being able to mold advocacy and litigation is a skill that cannot be taught in doctrinal class. Being exposed to the legal and ethical considerations involved in advising clients deprived of core human rights was an important learning opportunity prior to graduation that I remain ever grateful for.”

Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic (formerly International Human Rights Law Clinic), Domestic Violence Project

Afghan Legal Coordination Project, Legal Program Coordinator; Crescendo, Founder

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“My clinic experiences reminded me of my purpose and why I attended law school. It allowed me to connect with my clients, practice the empathy and sympathy that is needed during client interviews, and exercise professional boundaries that separated me from my colleagues.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Clinic taught me how to connect with the people I serve. It shed light on the complex ‘real-life’ obstacles that could not be taught in doctrinal classes. I was humbled to face these obstacles in a way that required critical thinking, but also compassion and understanding. Gaining experience on how to connect with my clients while resolving their problems has been the biggest factor in my success post-law school.”

Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic (formerly International Human Rights Law Clinic)

Jackson & Campbell, PC, Associate, Insurance Coverage Practice Group

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Participating in the Civil and Human Rights Clinic remains one of my favorite experiences during law school. It provided an unparalleled opportunity to immerse myself in learning about federal and state laws related to the intersection of cyber and privacy issues-- an issue that I continue to encounter in my current practice. It also allowed me to develop critical skills that I still depend on today, such as developing a good client rapport and the ability to synthesize complex legal information.  Clinic gave me a head start on important lawyerly skills that my peers did not quite develop until well into their professions.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Clinic gave me the chance to see the law in practice and to learn experientially. It was the best part of my law school experience because I was able to learn about the law by actively participating in it rather than just reading about it."

Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic (formerly International Human Rights Law Clinic)

Rogers Joseph O'Donnell, Associate

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Clinic helped me understand the ways that lawyers can give back to their communities by using the skills they develop every day in their practices in different ways. Clinic instilled in me the value of finding ways to use legal practices to help people.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Without my clinic experience, I would not have been as prepared for practice. Clinic was the way that I really learned what it was like to practice law for and with real clients who needed legal expertise.”

Domestic Violence Project

Miles and Stockbridge, PC, Associate Attorney (Tax)

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity? ​​

“My experience was with the Domestic Violence Project (DVP) where I found that one of the most necessary aspects of a client-advocate relationship is trust. It is the advocate that nurtures trust by listening to the client and inspiring confidence. During my time with DVP, I came across a young woman who refused shared custody with her financially stable parents. The woman was leaving a volatile relationship, had very minimal income, and was already the recipient of government aid. It was unlikely the Court would find her fit to retain sole custody. Her position could be strengthened if she included her family, even with temporary guardianship. It was not until I developed enough trust between us that she told the full story – her mother had previously abused her. By having this information, we were able to better strategize a resolution. Attorneys tend to believe they know the best solution and act in accordance with that sentiment, rather than the client’s requests. Unfortunately, the attorney neglects to realize sometimes the client is not comfortable enough to reveal everything. By forming that bond and providing that assurance to the client that you are their advocate first, one can properly perform as an advocate. I have translated this approach into my corporate practice by building a rapport. I explain my reasoning and emphasize that everything I say is purely a suggestion, subject to change with additional information. My professional identity as an advocate illustrates that I consider my client's desired wants before the prejudices of my professional expertise. Additionally, I have continued to volunteer my time to women’s shelters and pro bono clinics where these values are always advantageous and continue to be enhanced.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes? 

“Hand-in-hand with client trust, is the importance of patience, something that I could not have learned practically from my doctrinal classes. A client’s confidence in an attorney’s service is only further instilled when the client feels as though they are indeed a priority, rather than just another bill. Having to interact with younger clients, typically between the ages of 15 and 25 throughout the course of my time with DVP required a high level of patience and something that I had to learn quickly. One had to allow the client extra time as their circumstances were often painful to iterate or hard to recall, sometimes necessitating pause. Converting this to my current practice, I always try to schedule my calls in such a manner that I have 15 minutes in-between. This guarantees that I am rarely rushing a client or interrupting them with the “hard stop” phraseology. I have learned I learn far more from a client using this method. Additionally, I have noticed that having patience in my work unveils significantly more opportunities for amelioration. The legal practice is best compared to a puzzle. When one has the luxury of taking time away from the pieces, even if only for an hour, it is much easier to put those same pieces together, and maybe in a better way. Before submitting a brief or agreement, I always try to give myself time away. This time provides me with a fresh set of eyes to view that same material in a different light. Of course, this approach is only enabled by way of patience in one’s self.”

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic

Covington & Burling, Associate, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Our work in the Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic gave me a sense of deeper connection with the local community in Washington, DC, and enhanced my confidence as a lawyer in training. It helped me see how serving others through the legal profession can leave a positive, lasting impact on a person's life.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes? 

“I learned to be pragmatic when giving advice to local entrepreneurs, non-profits, and small businesses. Many of our clients needed help not only in navigating laws and regulations but also in thinking through the practical implications that could impact their day-to-day work.”

Rising for Justice (formerly Law Students in Court)

Citizens' Housing and Planning Association, Director of Public Policy, Affordable Housing

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“My clinic work affirmed my decision to pursue a career in public interest law.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Being a lawyer and effective advocate is so much more than studying casebooks. It's meeting clients where they are, building relationships, and being able to adapt and respond to any challenge.”

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic

The University of Michigan Law School; Clinical Teaching Fellow; Entrepreneurship and Small Business Law

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

"My clinical learning experiences have stuck with me throughout my legal career, and continue to shape my professional identity in ways related to pro bono representation and teaching transactional legal skills to young attorneys. After working in the Small Business and Community Economic Development Clinic, I have actively looked for opportunities to seek pro bono transactional work, spanning my work in private practice at a mid-sized regional law firm, volunteering as a supervising attorney in the community economic development clinic at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and now in my full-time Clinical Teaching Fellowship role in the Zell Entrepreneurship Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School. My attorney identity has always incorporated self-reflection and learning about learning, both of which are hallmarks of the clinical teaching experience I first learned in my Jacob Burns Legal Clinics experience. Finally, without my clinical experiences, I would not have such an appreciation for pro bono representation and providing legal resources to those who would not otherwise have the means, both of which are deeply ingrained in my professional identity.”

Health Rights Law Clinic

U.S. Senate, State Director for Chris Van Hollen

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Clinic helped crystallize that I wanted to practice in direct service rather than policy.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“The basics of applying legal research to a real-life client. The tangibility of the law began at the Clinics.”

Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic, Administrative Advocacy Clinic

FCC, International Bureau (International Telecommunications and Satellite Regulation), Deputy Chief

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“In clinic I learned that laws and regulations are sometimes much more complicated than they need to be, so now I make a point of trying to make regulations I help draft more streamlined, less burdensome and easier to understand.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“While knowing the law is important, more important is knowing how to listen to clients, assess their needs, and then explain and apply the law to their situation in a way that they can understand.”

Consumer Rights Clinic

DaisyDebt, Founder

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Fostered a life-long commitment to economic equity.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Working with clients.”

Prisoner & Reentry Clinic

Visiting Associate Professor of Law and Friedman Fellow in the Prisoner & Reentry Clinic at GW Law

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“My time in the Prisoner & Reentry Clinic was transformational for my professional identity. Having the opportunity to work closely with a professor, to practice law with even more independence than any internship, and to learn more about myself and what drives me is what led me into civil legal services and eventually law teaching. I would have known little to nothing about these paths if not for clinic, and certainly would not have seen them as available for me.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“I learned how to make strong legal arguments with messy, real-world facts and respond to situations that weren't created solely as academic exercises in legal writing and problem-solving. As I moved into my career in civil legal services, where new attorneys need to be quick learners and have to think on their feet, this was invaluable.”

Domestic Violence Project

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Research Fellow (Prescription Drug Regulation and Pricing), Program on Therapeutics, Regulation, and Law

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“Having seen how specific statutes affect people, I now focus my professional efforts on advocating for statutory and regulatory changes that improve the status quo, rather than working within existing structures.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“Setting realistic expectations for clients might be one of the most important skills I learned while in clinic. Establishing trust by outlining what clients can reasonably expect from proceedings helps maintain a good attorney-client relationship over the course of representation.”

Rising for Justice (formerly Law Students in Court)

City of Seattle, Assistant City Attorney, Land Use Section

How has what you learned in Clinic impacted your overall professional identity?

“The Rising for Justice Clinic strengthened my commitment to pro bono and public service for housing and local government practice areas.”

What is one thing you learned in Clinic that you could not have otherwise learned in your doctrinal classes?

“I learned a significant amount of landlord-tenant law, which I did not learn in my JD classes even with taking specialized housing courses. My current practice areas including landlord-tenant law and Rising for Justice provided me with a solid landlord-tenant law foundation which I use in on a daily basis.”