Clinical Programs: Student Reviews

My goal in law school is not only to be an attorney, but to be a competent and functional attorney the moment I pass the bar. My learning curve should be straight up and the internship at the Children and Families Clinic is helping me achieve my goal. For those of you who do not know me, this is my area of expertise or my passion in law. The Children and Families Clinic is giving me the opportunity to utilize the analytical and research skills I learned in the classroom and combine it with the hands on application of working with clients and the court system. This is my chance to work as an attorney, but still be in the learning mode, learning the trade with a mentor that expects you to have questions and helps you learn how to answer them and get realistic results. This type of learning should be a pre-requisite for all law students before they graduate, but since it isn't, I would highly recommend the experience because it gives you the edge over those who do not utilize the opportunity.

- Dorothy LaGamba, Children and Families Student, Spring 2005

The Children and Families Clinic has opened my eyes to a field of law I never considered before. The client interaction and courtroom experience have provided me with a more thorough understanding of the legal system and the role I would like to play in it. I recommend the Clinic to anyone who is looking for hands on experience that is guided by enthusiastic and supportive faculty members.

- Kerry Shankleton, Children and Families Student, Spring 2005

I got into the Children and Families Clinic because I wanted to learn actual litigation skills and also to familiarize myself with the system. I was not disappointed. I am getting the court room experience and the interaction with the different people in the system. I get to handle actual cases, talk to real clients, file motions and argue in front of a judge. My experiences in the Clinic, in my opinion, are good building blocks to a successful legal practice later on. There are nuances in the actual practice of the law that cannot be taught in the four corners of a classroom that the Clinic addresses. Don't miss this great learning opportunity, join the Clinic.

- Cedric G. Tibon, Children and Families Student, Spring 2005

Becoming a better lawyer requires familiarity with the courtroom and facing fears or concerns about going to trial. Gaining enough trial practice experience will give you the confidence to be relatively comfortable in the litigation field. You can get this trial practice through supervised experiences in the Clinical Programs. Professionals in the litigation field come to know which attorneys who are willing and confident to take an issue to trial. Those who are not, compromise the interests of their client(s) as well as their own futures as successful attorneys. My courses at Barry, beginning with a trial class, then the internship in the Children and Families Clinic, and finally the externship at the Office of the Public Defender, were essential to my relatively seamless shift into a job requiring trial practice. That progression of coursework is well worth taking, even for those who believe that their legal futures will only involve periodic hearings. A clinical internship or externship is an important step in gaining this valuable trial experience.

- Elizabeth Swanson - Assistant Public Defender, Orange County

My clinical experience has been both exciting and rewarding. I have been afforded the opportunity to work with "real life legal issues." This included actual court room experiences and full trial preparation. In my most recent case, I worked with a fellow student and co-counsel. We prepared our opening statement, questions for cross examinations as well as a closing argument. However, in this particular case we did not have the actual trial. Instead of a trial, we plea bargained with the Prosecutor, in the Judge's Chambers on behalf of our client. This was the most exciting experience I have encountered during my entire time here at Barry.

I feel that every student owes it to themselves to participate in a clinical program to find out "first hand" what it feels like to be in a courtroom. By doing so, you get over your fears before going out into the workforce.

- Judy E Scott - Children and Families Student, Spring 2005