Miami Law Clinics - Students Deliver Victories, Experience Breakthrough Moments 2017-18

For many students, participating in a clinic is one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences in law school. In the past academic year, Miami Law students and faculty have advocated for the underserved locally, nationally and across the globe.

Students from the Human Rights Clinic

By Lauren Beiley

Some Miami Law clinic highlights include:

BANKRUPTCY CLINIC:

Bankruptcy Clinic Students Receive Hands-On Experience Representing Clients and Present Arguments in Front of Bankruptcy Judges

Each semester at the Eleanor R. and Judge A. Jay Cristol Bankruptcy Pro Bono Assistance Clinic, students have the opportunity to gain practical experience with real cases in federal bankruptcy court. Students are placed with mentor bankruptcy attorneys in the community and assigned diverse cases such as chapter 7’s, chapter 13’s, contested matters, and adversary proceedings.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH LAW CLINIC:

Children and Youth Law Clinic Partners with Youth Policy Advocates in Tallahassee

The Children and Youth Law Clinic has been working hard to change child welfare law in Florida. Students traveled to Tallahassee as mentors with Florida Youth SHINE, for Children’s Week. Florida Youth SHINE is an advocacy organization run by current and former foster youth, who share stories and experiences with the legislature and the public. Florida Youth SHINE and the Children and Youth Law Clinic are giving a powerful voice for the thousands of children that are touched by the foster care system.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CLINIC:

Environmental Justice Clinic Collaborates with Law Firms in Class Action for Damages and Medical Monitoring on Behalf of West Grove Residents

Now the Environmental Justice Clinic is collaborating with a team of civic-minded law firms, including Napoli Shkolnik, to seek justice for the West Grove residents. In September 2017, Napoli Shkolnik filed a class action complaint against the City of Miami and others on behalf of past and present West Grove residents requesting compensatory damages and medical monitoring.

HEALTH RIGHTS CLINIC:

Health Rights Clinic Fights for Disabled Floridians after Hurricane Relief Debacle

In October, Thomas Voracek, a second-year law student, was among the Health Rights Clinic students reaching out to their clients to make sure they knew about the Florida's first post-hurricane relief in the form of a five-day food stamp distribution. To save time, he pre-registered online one of his clients, a 66-year-old Haitian man. By the end of the weekend, Voracek visited four sites and his client was no closer to receiving the much-needed benefits.

HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC:

UM International Human Rights Students Submit Reports to the UN Special Rapporteur

Twenty-one law students from Professor Carrie Bettinger-López’s International Human Rights Law and Advocacy class teamed with South Florida anti-poverty organizations to produce six reports for the United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.

IMMIGRATION CLINIC:

Immigration Clinic Wins Asylum for Roma Man

In a recent victory in immigration court, students from Miami Law’s Immigration Clinic prevented the deportation of a Roma man from the Czech Republic. Roma are a heavily-persecuted, largely impoverished community in Europe. In the last few years, four Czech cities erupted in anti-Roma demonstrations that ended in attacks on the homes of Roma people.

INNOCENCE CLINIC:

Innocence Clinic Takes on New Client with a Compelling Case of False Confession

Miami Law’s Innocence Clinic recently began investigating a case with a potentially compelling claim of innocence. Kenneth Patterson was arrested in February 1998 after his co-defendant Tevenin Wagenson identified him as the getaway driver...

INVESTOR RIGHTS CLINIC:

Investor Rights Clinic Helps Elderly Couple Recoup Financial Investment

Over the past year and a half, the Investor Rights Clinic has represented a retired couple in their 80s who lost half of their life savings in fraudulent investments. Although previously represented by an attorney, the Browns had nowhere to turn after the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority barred the brokerage firm that sold them the investments.

TENANTS' RIGHTS CLINIC

3L Awarded Equal Justice Works Fellowship at Legal Services of Greater Miami

This summer, the newly graduated HOPE Fellow and Tenants’ Rights Clinic intern will begin a two-year Equal Justice Works Fellowship at Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. sponsored by the Florida Bar Foundation. The project is aimed squarely at fiercely advocating for tenants of Liberty City, where 47% of the residents live below the poverty line, and 94% of the residents are African-American.