The legal clinics at McGeorge School of Law are a great gateway into the real-world aspects of being a lawyer. They allow you to focus on and build the essential skills that encompass the practice of law. Specifically, the Elder and Health Law Clinic (“Elder Clinic”) has given me the necessary foundation a successful attorney should have by allowing me to build my confidence and practice in the real world.

In the fall of 2022, I enrolled in the Elder and Health Social Policy course due to my curiosity in what was referred to as “Elder Law.” It was then that I discovered the vast array of problems the elders in our community face and what we, as lawyers, could do to protect and even prevent some of these abuses. I proceeded to join the Elder Clinic the following semester.

One of the most significant benefits of the Clinic is that it allows you to gain practical experience. The classroom provides a solid theoretical foundation, but only through the Clinic can you apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios. As the Student Attorney of a case, you conduct research, draft legal documents, and participate in client meetings, allowing you to bridge the gap between theory and practice. I was recently afforded the experience of defending my client in a restraining order case in open court before a presiding judge. Students, generally speaking, are not afforded this kind of practical experience at such a level anywhere else.

Also, the Elder Clinic is very legally diverse. Here, you are allowed to handle a variety of cases, ranging from probate litigation, estate planning, financial abuse such as fraud, Social Security issues, and, of course, elder abuse. Further, the fundamental skills of the legal profession, research and writing, are honed as you engage with your cases. You are offered the opportunity to conduct in-depth research, draft legal briefs, and prepare documents for court. These skills are valuable to any successful attorney as they help you enhance your legal judgment.

Finally, the supervising attorneys, Melissa Brown, Lacey Mickleburgh, and John Sims, do an amazing job at guiding us while simultaneously giving us significant freedom to handle our cases as we see fit. This method of supervision promotes the growth of our problem-solving abilities as they relate to case management and the decision-making processes of legal strategies. The supervisors are truly great, dependable teachers who have taught me how to practice law.

The Elder Clinic allows you to enhance both your in-court and out-of-court knowledge, helping you identify your specific interests and strengths. This wide range of experience can help guide your future career choices and specialization, all while you get to help a troubled individual in need. The Elder and Health Law Clinic is where I found my confidence as an aspiring attorney and where I discovered that I wanted to pursue a career in civil litigation.

When I was researching law schools to apply to, I found the web page for McGeorge School of Law’s legal clinics and in particular was drawn to the Prisoner Civil Rights Mediation Clinic. As I put together my law school application and waited impatiently to hear back from schools, this Clinic stayed in my mind. It spoke to the kind of lawyer I wanted to be; able to build a relationship with their client and provide equitable justice. Fast forward to my 2L year, I am finally sitting in the clinic taught by Professor Ederlina Co. We start by reading “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander among other authors to dissect and understand California’s prison industry and the political, racial, and emotional dynamics we were about to walk into. This class really emphasized students reflecting on their readings, their cases, and their part to play in these civil rights matters. Professor Co often asked our class, “Does this facilitate justice?” That would be a theme often turned to to better internalize what we were doing at the time.  

After much practice, students pair off and begin their plaintiff interviews, mediation brief writing, mediation, and finally self-reflection. I learned vital interviewing skills, like how to effectively and mindfully balance asking a plaintiff emotionally-deep questions and keeping to a strict timetable. I learned how to be more astute to the biases in the room (the plaintiff, defendant, judge, and students) and how they may conflict. A mediation is anything but passive.  

I also learned how to better check-in with myself and ask myself if I feel comfortable doing what I am and what I can do about it. Over the course of the Clinic, my personal beliefs were tested. I was sure with every part of my being that Bryan Stevenson’s famous quote, “Everyone is worth more than the worst thing they have ever done,” was the ultimate truth. Eventually, I had to ask myself if there was a limit to what the worst thing someone has ever done. Is there a certain point where someone becomes unforgivable? I concluded that there is no such point. A person is still a person, and they deserve the fairness and justice owed to them merely by their humanity.  

Finally, did my experience in this Clinic facilitate justice? My experience in this Clinic has changed my definition of justice and how it is achieved. A settlement will not change what happened to the plaintiff, but justice may be what will allow the injured party to move on. It is individual and flexible. It can be achieved in many ways, from $5,000 or no settlement. As individual as I believe justice to be, it must also be informed. $5,000 is not justice if the plaintiff doesn’t understand the situation they are in now or the situation they will be in if they settle. Plaintiffs must be able to rely on the judge-mediator’s evaluations of their claims and any offers the defendant’s party provided because of the resources and power imbalance that exists in that mediation room. 

In conclusion, I have total admiration for Professor Co and the values she brings to the classroom. I am so grateful to have had this experience. It was a vital step in my path to find what legal field best fit me. I am additionally unquestionably grateful for my clinic partner, Fara Rodriguez. She is a fierce advocate, brilliant, kind, and a very supportive friend. Thank you for this opportunity to share my experience at the Prisoner Civil Rights Mediation Clinic.  

By Malaya Siy, a third-year student at McGeorge School of Law.  

Over the summer, I interned in Vienna, Austria as part of McGeorge School of Law’s Salzburg Graduate Study Abroad Program. It was the first time I traveled alone and the furthest I have ever been away from home. I went in feeling unsure about the benefits I’d be taking away from the experience. Although I was intrigued by international law, I was nervous the experience would not meet my expectations. By the time I left Austria, I found that international law was both professionally and personally satisfying.

My internship provided several benefits in furthering my legal education. For one, working in an international legal setting exposed me to a different legal system with sometimes contrasting perspectives from the U.S. This broadened my understanding of how law operates on a global scale and gave me a more comprehensive view of legal issues. I was fortunate enough to attend a few court appearances, both in criminal and civil court. Although I could not understand what was being said in court, observing the procedural aspects of Austrian courts was very beneficial, as I could compare them to U.S. courts.

Probably the most practical benefit was my improvement in legal research. Much of my time at the firm involved conducting extensive legal research and drafting documents. This forced me to become more adept with Westlaw and LexisNexis. It also forced me to be more adaptable with my research when the information or case law I found in those databases was insufficient.

This program also allows students to connect with McGeorge School of Law alumni and make outside connections. Both the senior partner at my firm and my landlord were McGeorge School of Law alumni, and great people. The senior partner at my firm, Christoph Jeannée, was courteous enough to introduce me to new contacts outside the legal profession. As a senior member of the Beethoven chapter of Business Networking International (BNI), Jeannée introduced me to new contacts involved in all types of professions. Forming international connections with non-legal professionals can be beneficial in the long run because you have your hand in more professional spheres you typically would not be in.

Probably the most challenging aspect of this experience was the language barrier. While the associates at my firm were certainly accommodating and spoke to me in English all the time, it could be frustrating not being able to understand them in mail meetings or at lunch. Of course, that is a natural consequence of an international legal setting. Ironically, my illiteracy in German forced me to become more literate in legal databases. Considering Austrians tend to keep more to themselves, the fact the people at my firm went out of their way to acknowledge me reassured me that it is possible to connect with people (especially clients) in an international legal setting.

I do think it is important to be proficient in multiple languages for an international law career, so I decided to (slowly) learn German after the summer ended. Proficiency in multiple languages can be a significant asset in the legal field, especially for international transactions and negotiations. Additionally, understanding cultural norms and communication styles of a country’s population can be crucial when dealing with international clients or working on cross-border cases.

Perhaps the most important aspect of my internship though was my chance for personal growth. Because I had never traveled alone in my life, living 6,000 miles away from my family for 2+ months was anxiety-inducing to say the least. Undeniably though, it enhanced my problem-solving skills, independence, and self-confidence. I also learned to navigate unfamiliar situations and overcome cultural barriers.

This is a great program for any McGeorge School of Law student even mildly interested in an international legal career. Because international law encompasses many topics, this experience was only a first step towards an international law career.

By Joseph Murphy, a second-year student at McGeorge School of Law.