UCI Law Spearheads Variety of Pro Bono Projects

11-08-17

UCI Law students recently participated in several pro bono projects benefitting low-income and underserved populations, locally and beyond. Instilling the value of public service is at the core of UCI Law’s mission; since opening our doors to students in 2009, more than 92 percent of all UCI Law students have provided more than 60,000 hours of pro bono legal services. These are a few examples of students’ work.

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Permanency Project

Students organized UCI Law’s sixth Permanency Project, which ran during fall break. A dozen students assisted clients of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) in requesting legal permanency. Clients are in the United States legally due to being a prior victim of crime, and are now seeking legal permanent residence. Fernando Nunez (2L) served as student leader. Attorneys from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP provided training, supervision, and will finalize the cases.

Pictured: Viridiana Chabolla Mendoza (1L) 
For more photos of the Permanency Project, click here.

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Street Law

During fall break, students teamed up with attorneys from the Association of Corporate Counsel to facilitate our Street Law Program. Together they taught lessons on diverse legal topics to students from Middle College High School in Santa Ana. More than 15 UCI Law students participated.

Pictured, from left: Daniel Webber (3L), Alexis Mondares (1L), Ryan Wiseman (2L), Ike Nnadi (2L) 
For more photos of the Street Law Program, click here.

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Immigration Intakes

In collaboration with Asian Americans Advancing Justice and a large group of church-based volunteers in south Orange County, 12 students participated in an Immigration Clinic at a local church, serving 43 families. Students conducted intake interviews with at least 38 people. Each of those people then met with an attorney for advice and counsel. Separately, volunteer attorneys were assisting with Emergency Family Planning documents, and volunteers from two area churches assisted families hoping to secure passports for their U.S. citizen children.

Pictured, from left: Quiyarra McCahey (1L), community volunteer