The University of Miami Immigration Clinic was recently celebrated with an honorable mention at the Association of American Law Schools 2024 Conference on Clinical Legal Education in St. Louis. The clinic, partnered with the University of Minnesota Law School James H. Binger Center for New Americans Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, led a coalition of advocates representing 92 people from Somalia who were shackled and abused for two days on a failed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation flight in 2017.
Through these efforts, which included a class action lawsuit as well as individual representation, many of the individuals had their immigration cases opened and many were released from detention. The advocacy was a model of clinical collaboration and leadership and is the subject of a book authored by Rebecca Sharpless, associate dean for experiential learning and director of the Immigration Clinic. The book, "Shackled: 92 Refugees Imprisoned on ICE Air" was published by University of California Press in January.
Clinical faculty also attended the conference, "Unfinished Arcs: Ferguson and Beyond," including Kele Stewart, co-director of the Children and Youth Law Clinic, who in her capacity as co-chair of the Clinical Section on Clinical Legal Education, welcomed and shared information about service opportunities at the New Clinicians Conference, co-chaired an executive committee meeting, and presented the AALS Clinical Section awards at the luncheon.
Stewart was joined by other clinical faculty, including Doug Ruley, director of the Environmental Justice Clinic, and Rachel Maremont, acting associate director of the Immigration Clinic.
Launched in 1995, Miami Law's dynamic clinical program covers a broad range of practice areas and is infused with a deep commitment to social justice. The clinics are taught primarily by full-time faculty who are experts and trailblazers in their field and gifted teachers versed in clinical pedagogy.
The annual conference is the section's major gathering to promote its goals of "communication of ideas, interests and activities among members of the Section and makes recommendations on matters concerning clinical legal education," according to their website.
AALS organizes the Conference on Clinical Legal Education each year to provide a space dedicated to the unique and often pressing opportunities, challenges, and teaching moments present in law school clinics and professional development for law teachers.
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