Areen Mesrobian and Christa Millard, UCI Law 2021 Graduates, Recipients of CLEA Outstanding Clinical Team Award
The University of California, Irvine School of Law (UCI Law) is thrilled to announce that Areen Mesrobian and Christa Millard, both 2021 UCI Law graduates, recently received a Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Clinical Team Award.
Areen and Christa participated in UCI Law's Domestic Violence Clinic for three semesters. Jane Stoever, UCI Law Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Domestic Violence Clinic (DVC), explained that the two went above and beyond in their semesters representing clients and working in the community. Several weeks into their first semester in the DVC, the team litigated a two-day evidentiary hearing on behalf of a DVC client.
“They worked around the clock on a case with cross-petitions for Domestic Violence Restraining Orders and a request for custody,” said Prof. Stoever. “The judge granted our client a restraining order, finding that the client had experienced gun violence, sexual assault, strangulation, and other forms of abuse. Unfortunately, the judge also made some findings against our client and focused on her past criminal history, which Areen and Christa sought to appeal on behalf of our client.”
In a co-counseled appeal, the DVC, with Areen and Christa as the lead students on the appeal, argued the legal errors in the judge’s application of the law and that the judge improperly considered the client's past criminal record, which Prof. Stoever explained is significant given the client’s identity as a Black woman and the racial bias evident in the criminal legal system. As advanced clinic students, they continued to work on the appeal, as well litigating multiple other cases remotely and in person throughout COVID-19 and working on issues of technology-enabled abuse.
In addition to their fieldwork, Areen and Christa also excelled in their clinic seminar. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to online teaching, students were invited to present on topics of interest.
“Areen gave a powerful presentation on domestic violence experienced by Armenians. Christa presented on her work in partnership with a DOJ Task Force on the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) in Montana involving intersections of domestic violence, poverty, jurisdictional issues, mistrust of law enforcement, and the ways in which cultural differences in family structure are reflected in missing persons reporting,” said Prof. Stoever.
Areen and Christa have both been involved in many other activities at UCI Law as well. Areen externed at the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office and Christa externed at the U.S. Attorney’s Office – both receiving high praise for their work. Additionally, both have given back to the community by participating in pro bono projects. Christa served as the student leader for a domestic violence declarations project for two years, and Areen worked with many other groups.
"The most memorable and impactful part of law school was my time with the UCI Law Domestic Violence Clinic. It offered me the chance to represent a client in court while having the benefit of being guided by two exceptional professors, Professor Stoever and Professor Cyr, whose expertise is matched only by their ability to inspire their students,” said Areen. “We have great responsibility in representing vulnerable clients who have the added burden of reliving their trauma and facing their abusers in court. Having the opportunity to help them take a step toward healing has been unforgettable and an experience I will carry with me throughout my professional career. Finally, I was lucky enough to be paired with Christa, who pushed me to be my best and has become a dear friend."
"Without a doubt, the most formative and fulfilling part of my legal education was my student advocacy with the UCI Law Domestic Violence Clinic,” said Christa. “I had the responsibility and privilege of supporting domestic violence survivors, so they could tell their story, often for the first time--whether testifying on Direct Examination in a restraining order hearing, or writing a Declaration in support of a Temporary Restraining Order. I am especially grateful to Professors Patricia Cyr and Jane Stoever, who demonstrated empathetic, client-centered lawyering and encouraged me to find my own legal voice. I am appreciative of my Clinical classmates (all of you!) for creating a welcoming, team-oriented learning environment. And to top it all off, thank you to the UCI Law Domestic Violence Clinic for giving me a lifelong friend in my Clinic partner, Areen!"
More about UCI Law's Clinical Program
The Clinical Training program at UCI Law is ranked No. 6 nationally – No. 2 among public schools – in the U.S. News & World Report specialty rankings. The Law School also is ranked No. 9 for Legal Writing by U.S. News & World Report, and preLaw Magazine ranks UCI Law No. 9 for Practical Training.
UCI Law focuses on real-life learning as a core part of the curriculum starting in students’ first year. The Law School consistently ranks at the top for its reputation among legal educators nationwide, and has emerged as a preeminent law school for clinical, practical and real-world experiential training. Placing a strong emphasis on practical training enables UCI Law students to gain valuable experience representing a variety of clients in need and working to address pressing issues in the community.
As part of the emphasis on experiential learning, students at the law school are guaranteed a placement in a 6-unit core clinic to fulfill the clinical education graduation requirement. In addition, they are given the opportunity to enroll in elective clinics and participate in our robust externship and pro bono programs. All law students are encouraged to complete 120 hours of pro bono work prior to graduation. First-year students conduct interviews at a local legal aid office as part of a 6-unit course in Lawyering Skills. Through this array of experiences, UCI Law students gain exposure to clients’ real-life experiences with the legal system, professional responsibility issues, and potential career paths.