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Changing Lives
by Kim Gordon

The professors and students at the Legal Clinics work together to make a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of clients.

“The Legal Clinics changed our lives forever,” says Anika Porter as she proudly watches her 16-year-old son Dannell play with his baby brother. “The lawyers and students at the Legal Clinics turned my son’s life around — and gave me my life back.

”A year ago, Dannell was an entirely different person — failing his classes, starting fights at school, using drugs and repeatedly running away from home. All of Anika’s time and energy was spent trying to help Dannell stay out of trouble and off the streets.

Military school and leadership camps didn’t work. Anika’s fitness training business was suffering. She could barely stay above water.

“We were headed down a dark path,” Anika admits. “I was ready to give up, but I was terrified Dannell was going to end up on the streets, in jail or worse. I didn’t know what to do or where to turn.

”When Dannell was arrested for stealing an 89-cent doughnut at the grocery store (when he had the money to pay for it) Anika knew something was off. Convinced a medical condition was behind her son’s unpredictable and disruptive behavior, she took Dannell to see doctors at Grace Hill’s Children’s Developmental Center. The physicians there prescribed medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and paranoid schizophrenia.

Dannell’s behavior drastically improved, but medical treatment alone could not cure Dannell’s legal and academic problems. Then she met Patricia Harrison, whom Anika calls her “saving grace.”

Professor Harrison, director of the Child Advocacy Clinic, was consulting on cases at Grace Hill for a pilot program called the Children’s Health Advocacy Project (CHAP). The medical-legal partnership, recently funded by a $573,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, improves access to existing medical and legal services for disadvantaged St. Louis children. The medical-legal partnership was originally developed in 2005 by Professor Jesse A. Goldner, the John D. Valentine Professor, who aided in securing the grant. CHAP is a joint partnership with the Legal Clinics, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers.

“CHAP is such an important program because the legal issues surrounding a medical situation can cause so much stress that it can affect the client’s ability to heal and recover,” explains Professor Harrison. “It’s a testament to what can happen when doctors and lawyers join forces.”

Professor Harrison explains that students at the Legal Clinics learn quickly that their work profoundly impacts people’s lives. “They realize this is a real person who needs them, and if they don’t represent them the best they possibly can, the client may not get to go home or live with their family anymore. A powerful emotional connection forms when you’re guiding clients through what is often the most difficult time of their lives.

”In Dannell’s case, Professor Harrison negotiated community service for the shoplifting charges. Law student Latasha Barnes began working with Professor Harrison on an Individualized Education Plan, which is mandated by law for certain students with disabilities at public schools. Anika admits she was lost when it came to navigating through the complex bureaucracy. She wasn’t aware of the special education resources that Dannell was legally entitled to by law, and she could not afford extensive legal representation to guide her through the complex legal process.

“Trish went above and beyond what I ever imagined an attorney would do for a client — she still attends school meetings after-hours with us to ensure Dannell’s program is in place, and she constantly follows up with us and the school,” Anika says. “It’s difficult to put into words how grateful I am for the Legal Clinics. I truly believe it’s been a blessing from God.”

The specialized education plan allowed Dannell to return and succeed in school. His grades rose from failing to a B- average, and he recently received the Golden Lion Award for excellent behavior and an athletic excellence award at University City High School. He also has a steady job at Ruth Park Golf Course.

“It is so rewarding to see someone who has everything stacked against him, truly turn his life around,” says Latasha Barnes, who received the 2009 David Grant Clinic Student Award, which recognizes a third-year law student who has served as an advocate for social justice. “It’s also very inspiring to see the criminal justice system work and make such a difference in a young person’s life. The cases at the Legal Clinics put a face on your academic education, and you realize that practicing law is about people.”

The Clinic Experience
Whether prosecuting or defending criminal cases, clerking for judges, handling transactional matters for major corporations or assisting the homeless and the elderly, the Legal Clinics offer students invaluable practical experience while providing valuable legal services to the community.

“The community is our classroom,” explains Professor John J. Ammann, director of the Legal Clinics. “Through public service comes experience, and through experience comes a deeper understanding of the law, and most importantly, of people.”

Professors and students annually provide approximately more than 31,000 hours of free legal service — totaling an estimated $3.3 million — to the community through the School of Law’s Legal Clinics and public service programs.

The Legal Clinics offer numerous opportunities for students to become involved with public service. Students can work at public service agencies, such as Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, the U.S. Attorney in Missouri and Illinois and state and local government offices.

As part of the In-house Legal Clinics, students at the Child Advocacy Clinic assist with juvenile delinquency matters as the child’s attorney, serve as guardians ad litem for abused and neglected children and represent children in special education cases. They argue legal motions, cross-examine witnesses and deliver closing arguments. In 2008, the Child Advocacy Clinic handled more than 100 cases.

“I never thought I could use my law degree to help so many people,” explains Latasha Barnes, who’s handled dozens of juvenile cases over the past year. “It’s so important to give 100 percent to your cases because the outcome has a significant impact on your client’s life. It’s not like getting the wrong answer on an exam and my class ranking falls. If I make a mistake in court, it could result in a mother losing custody of her child.”

The School of Law also provides a variety of volunteer public service programs that allow students to serve the community, such as Stand Down for Vets, an annual event in which law students work with local attorneys to assist more than 100 homeless veterans with their legal needs. And every January through March, law students work in partnership with local attorneys to provide free assistance in preparing tax returns for low-income families, who are able to collect nearly $1 million in credits and refunds annually.

“We handle cases that impact society and the community,” says Professor Ammann. “There are thousands of people whose lives are forever changed by the work and dedication of our students.”

Under the guidance of the Clinic professors, students partnered with the Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry and other non-profit organizations to champion the cause of 80 Bosnian war refugees whose citizenship applications were unlawfully delayed and persuaded the federal government to naturalize the immigrants.

As part of a reciprocal relationship with the Legal Clinics, the Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry, which shares office space with the Legal Clinics, supervises students who handle immigration cases, represent abused women and serve as guardians ad litem for abused and neglected children.

“Representing your own clients creates a strong personal connection to the case,” says law student Katie Jones, who has worked on several immigration and domestic violence cases at the Legal Clinics. “Whether it’s helping war refugees stay in the United States or removing someone from a domestic violence situation, you quickly realize you’re handling cases that influence people’s lives and your clients are extremely grateful for your help, which is so rewarding.”

Several recent cases exemplify how the Legal Clinics profoundly impact hundreds of people’s lives and affect positive change in the community. Last January, the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by the Legal Clinics challenging the way the state’s Blind Pension Benefit is calculated. The decision could result in millions of dollars in retroactive benefits for 3,000 blind Missourians.

Under Professor Ammann’s guidance, students at the Legal Clinics also worked with other attorneys to convince a federal judge in Kansas City to restore funding for medical equipment for more than 300,000 Missourians, allowing many low-income people to stay in their homes instead of nursing homes.

Most recently, the Legal Clinics partnered with the University’s John Cook School of Business to assist Habitat for Neighborhood Business, a program that helps establish small businesses in economically distressed neighborhoods. Law students draft leases and construction contracts and oversee real estate closings for the emerging business districts on Martin Luther King Drive and North Taylor Avenue.

“Law is not an isolated profession,” explains law student Virginia Williams. “I’ve interacted with everyone from construction workers to city officials and learned how legal and non-legal issues affect a case. The contracts and transactions we negotiate affect clients on multiple levels.”

Expanding Education
The Legal Clinics offer more than 100 students every semester an array of opportunities to participate in a broad range of legal work for individuals, non-profit organizations, major corporations and small businesses. Full-time faculty members with years of experience supervise clinic students, who are allowed to handle cases in federal and state court under the Missouri Student Practice Rule.

In January, the Legal Clinics moved into its expanded offices. The 1,500-square-foot addition includes new student workspace, a state-of-the-art conference room and five faculty offices. But most important, the expansion allows for a significant increase in the number of students who can enroll in the In-house Clinic.

Overwhelming student interest has spurred the expansion of the Clinic, doubling its caseloads and more than tripling student opportunities over the past decade.

Now, hundreds of students every year can choose from more than a dozen in-house and public service programs, including public interest law, litigation, family law, criminal law, immigration law, elder law, juvenile law and housing legal matters.

Students who complete the required courses can apply for an in-house clinic or externship program. “The Clinic allows students who have strong interviewing, public speaking skills or problem-solving skills a chance to really shine,” says Professor Barbara Gilchrist, who directs the Elder Law Clinic. “The Clinic gives students the chance to thrive in a practical skills setting.”

The Clinic students handle a range of transitional work for non-profit organizations. Through the School of Law’s partnership with the Saint Louis Zoo, students are introduced to the inside workings of a major non-profit organization and gain experience working in employment, taxation and non-profit law. Students also handle legal work for Habitat for Humanity, including drafting leases, contracts and deeds as well as handling real estate closings.

Students argue cases in the Missouri Court of Appeals under a new project, in which students represent claimants in unemployment compensations cases. The Judicial Process Clinic, supervised by Professor Amany Ragab Hacking, also allows students to clerk for federal or state judges, drafting orders and opinions, performing legal research and observing trials. And externships in corporate, government and non-profit agencies provide a variety of litigation and in-house counsel practical experiences.

“No matter if I’m taking a deposition for a corporate client or interviewing an indigent person in criminal court, my experiences in the Clinic have taught me that strong interviewing skills are invaluable,” says law student Robert Parker. “If you know how to talk — and listen to a client — you’ll get the answers you need to present a good case.”

A Supportive Environment
As law student Virginia Williams works on a preliminary injunction motion for a Section 8 housing case, she walks in and out of Professor Ammann’s office with dozens of questions and updates as she prepares the motion for court the following morning.

“It’s an open-door policy at clinic,” she says. “The professors don’t care how many questions we ask, but they don’t just give us the answers. They help guide us through the process and understand the multiple legal issues at play.”

While the Legal Clinics offer real-world experiences on actual cases, students learn in a supportive environment knowing they have a trusted safety net with the Legal Clinics professors.

“The Clinic is reflective learning in a safe environment,” explains Professor Gilchrist. “It’s an opportunity for students to take the legal principles and ethics they’ve learned in class and apply the law to actual cases, which enhances their understanding of the law.”

At the Legal Clinics, professors and students analyze cases together, discussing what was successful and what might have been done differently. “Reflective learning is a lifelong practice, and it’s important for students to understand their mistakes,” explains Professor Susan W. McGraugh, who directs the Criminal Defense Clinic. “By reflecting on cases, students figure out what went wrong — and what went right — so they can do it better next time. Every case is different and offers a new chance to learn.”

Professor McGraugh adds that it’s rewarding to watch students transform from nervous and apprehensive into confident and capable.

“With each case, my confidence builds,” says Sarah Schweitzer, who worked in the criminal clinic this past semester. “The hands-on experience really prepares you to be a confident and competent attorney. Our professors trust us and repeatedly tell us ‘you can do this.’ And we start to believe them because we see our success with each case.”

Students often compare the Clinic professors to coaches and cheerleaders, offering expert guidance and tough-but-fair encouragement while motivating and applauding them as they apply the law.

“Our clinic professors are great mentors and encourage us while they push us to achieve our best,” Latasha Barnes says. “I know that even after I graduate, I will have a lifelong support system.”

Beyond the Classroom
The Clinic helps bring the classroom to life for many students by allowing them the chance to apply the legal and ethical skills they learn in class to actual cases.

And the practical training in the Legal Clinics provides students with a realistic perspective and competitive advantage when entering the legal world.

“The practical experience in the Legal Clinics provides students with a competitive edge when securing employment because employers know these students can hit the ground running with a case,” says Mary Pat McInnis, Director of Career Services. “This year, several firms hired the Clinic students because they were impressed that our students had argued and briefed cases in front of the Missouri Court of Appeals. It gives our students a competitive edge because employers value the real-world experience — it’s an invaluable asset on their resumés.”

Professor Ammann explains there’s a psychological transition when students leave the School of Law classroom and walk the 150 feet to the Legal Clinics office on the corner of Spring Street and Westminster Place.

“It’s like they transform from student to lawyer,” he says. For many students, their experiences in the Legal Clinics also enhance their understanding of the legal theories they study in class. “The legal principles and theoretical arguments we discuss in the classroom are the building blocks of the law, but in the Clinic, the law comes to light,” law student Robert Plunkett explains. “The classroom and the courtroom come full circle. And we see the impact the law has on so many people.”

Working in the Legal Clinics has taught Latasha Barnes that the law is not black and white; rather it’s layered with many shades of gray. “In class, we learn about rules and procedures, but even the simplest cases have many issues that affect the outcome of a case,” she says. “But in the end, the practice of law is really all about helping people.”

And for clients like Dannell and his mother, the Legal Clinics are often their last lifeline before they fall through the cracks.

“The Legal Clinics are often the final resort for people who have been turned down by other non-profit services,” says Professor Ammann. “We represent the underdog, the forgotten and the hopeless. Without our help, many people would end up on the streets or in jail or without medical benefits. We are the last line of defense for many people.”

Student Perspective
Third-year law student Megan Nolan offers an inside look at her clinical experience

When I first came to law school, I was just like every other first-year student — excited, scared and ready to learn how to be a lawyer. As I sat through Contracts, Legal Research and Writing and other first-year classes, I knew I was learning about the law. In my second year, I took Moot Court, Trial Advocacy and Client Counseling, which introduced me to different aspects of litigation, but none of those courses put it all together for me. Then I heard about the Legal Clinics.

Just like any successful law firm, the clinic has “partners” (the professors) and “associates” (the students). The partners give the young associates cases and clients, and the eager associates jump on every assignment. My first case involved the alleged discrimination against mentally ill and developmentally disabled people. I advocated for the housing rights of our clients, which not only taught me the law but was also very rewarding.

The most important skill I learned from this case was interviewing. It is one thing to interview clients without disabilities; it is an entirely different task to get information from people with disablities. I needed to use language that clients could understand, which was tough in this case. I explained the court process, housing rights and discrimination, and what it meant to be part of the lawsuit to people who did not understand any of those issues. I also learned about discrimination suits: the necessary proof and allegations required for the complaint as well as some of the politics behind governmental actions.

During my semesters in the Clinic, I experienced a lot of hands-on learning. I participated in trials and hearings, held conferences with judges and handled negotiations with other attorneys. I drafted pleadings, motions, letters and a settlement agreement. And I interviewed clients and prepared them to speak at trials.

I also conducted a deposition of an agent of the opposing party. Preparing for a deposition is much like preparing for a trial: You have to know what you are going to ask, what you are trying to get the person to say and how to follow-up to get the answers you need. I also elicited evidence from the opposing party that would be helpful to our cause.

When I began law school, I knew I wanted to litigate. My Clinic experience has reinforced that decision as well as the decision to pursue a career in the civil arena. I am also more confident speaking to other lawyers, judges and clients. And this confidence is built upon my successful experiences at the Clinic.

I believe that my clinical experience enriched the lives of my clients. I assisted people with disabilities to get good homes and support. I helped a battered woman utilize a new statute to remedy her situation. I acted as a guardian ad litem for a little boy in family court.

And most importantly, I believe the Legal Clinics have prepared me to begin the practice of law.