Spending Spring Break Serving Others
UCI Law students volunteered at five organizations across three states
UCI Law students spent part of their spring break doing what UCI Law students do best – volunteering their time to help others. Earlier this month, 18 UCI Law students travelled to Louisiana, Mississippi and Montana to provide pro bono legal services at a variety of locations with the help of UCI Law alumni.
A group of five students worked with the Louisiana Public Defender’s Office and alum Emily Genzlinger (’20), a public defender in St. Tammany Parish (22nd Judicial District) — near New Orleans in Covington, Louisiana.
Two groups travelled to two different locations in Mississippi. Three students worked with the Mississippi Center for Justice in Biloxi with Anna Davis, Director of Externships and Pro Bono for UCI Law. They worked at an expungement clinic helping clients prepare the applicable documents to expunge eligible criminal convictions. They also spent two mornings observing the proceedings in Justice Court, which was is similar to small claims court, including eviction matters.
We were able to truly help people with the knowledge and legal skills we obtained. This is exactly why I applied to law school.
- Britney Li, UCI Law 2L
Alexis Mondares (’20), Experiential Learning Coordinator for UCI Law, travelled with four students to Jackson, Mississippi, where two students worked with Disability Rights Mississippi and two students worked with Mississippi Center for Legal Services. At Disability Rights Mississippi, students aided in conducting monitoring visits to the state mental hospital, juvenile jail and a state residence for adults with mental illness, and conducted research into federally mandated disability rights in higher education. They learned about the advocacy DRMS is doing in schools, job placement and prison conditions.
“While there [Jackson, Mississippi], I was struck by the depth and breadth of their work and how it connects to so many other movements for civil and human rights,” said Rachel Castillo, UCI Law 1L. “The city of Jackson is up against all odds, including undrinkable water, systemic racism, the highest murder rate per capita, and a conservative state government dealing with corruption and a lack of funds. All of these challenges are compounded for people with disabilities, who are frequently very low income. The work DRMS is doing with people with disabilities has the potential for a positive impact for all residents of Mississippi. I left feeling fired up and grateful that the people we spent the week with are there, fighting the good fight.”
One group travelled to the Crow Reservation in Billings, Montana where the students worked with the prosecutor’s office and Annie Nicholson (’21), associate in the Orange County office of Haynes and Boone, who travelled with the students to help lead their pro bono work. The students were able to argue in Court on the Crow Reservation. Thanks to Haynes and Boone for its financial support that made this trip possible. Thank you also to our alum Annie Nicholson, who led this project, and Emily Cross (’16), General Counsel for KOA Campgrounds of America, Inc. in Billings, who met with the students.
“We were able to truly help people with the knowledge and legal skills we obtained,” said Britney Li, UCI Law 2L. “This is exactly why I applied to law school. I appreciate UCI Law's effort in providing various meaningful pro bono programs for students. As an international student, it was invaluable to learn about the tribal reservation, its judicial system and its culture.”
“I had such a great time in Montana with Annie and the rest of the team and honestly consider it a highlight of my time in law school so far,” said Alfred Hwang, UCI Law 2L. “It was really illuminating getting to see conditions on and around the reservations and getting to talk to the people that work on or with the reservation on a daily basis. It was also such an awe-inspiring experience to get to appear in court in tribal court and start putting some of the skills that I've learned in law school to the test!”
The work DRMS is doing with people with disabilities has the potential for a positive impact for all residents of Mississippi. I left feeling fired up and grateful that the people we spent the week with are there, fighting the good fight.
- Rachel Castillo, UCI Law 1L
About the Pro Bono Program at University of California, Irvine School of Law
UCI Law has a deeply embedded culture of public service, instilling in students the importance of using their legal skills to help underrepresented communities and to champion social justice for all. More than 90 percent of UCI Law J.D. students participate in the Pro Bono Program, ensuring that legal services are provided to the most vulnerable among us, both locally and around the world. Since 2009, our students have provided more than 135,000 hours of legal services through our program. Students are strongly encouraged to participate as early as their first year of law school, developing legal skills while working with clients and advancing social justice. Our graduates also remain committed to making the world a better place, either through pro bono service in their private practice or as public interest attorneys. Please follow us on Twitter @UCILaw, Facebook @UCIrvineLaw and Instagram @ucilaw.