Posted March 20, 20129:42 am
Cleveland, OH -- The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland recruited top law students for its 2012 summer associate program. More than 95 students from 27 law schools applied to Legal Aid's competitive summer program. A staff committee selected 16 students who will work at Legal Aid for a summer placement.
Legal Aid attorneys mentor the summer associates on issues of poverty law. The structured 11-week program includes trainings on substantive law, public interest work, and basics of legal practice. Students learn how to interview clients, draft court pleadings, research relevant legal issues and observe hearings and trials.
Many summer associates are funded through their law school's public interest law program, alumni associations, or through national foundations such as Equal Justice Works Summer Corp Program and Equal Justice America. The schools, students and placements include:
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Kevin E. Barcelo
Consumer Law Group
Gabrielle DiBella
Health, Education, Work, Income & Immigration Group
Diana Feitl
Health, Education, Work, Income & Immigration Group
Sarah Gatti
Intake & Referral Group
Volunteer Lawyers Program
Julianne Kim
Health, Education, Work, Income & Immigration Group
Sarah Nasta
Health, Education, Work, Income & Immigration Unit
Community Advocacy Program
Jason Shachner
Housing Law Group
Melissa E. Swaby
Family Law Group
Domestic Violence Project
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Erin N. Chelune
Intake & Referral Group
Volunteer Lawyers Program
John Marshall Law School
Jacqueline Olivares
Health, Education, Work, Income & Immigration Group
Ohio Northern University College of Law
Andrew D. Pugsley
Painesville Office
Penn State University School of Law
Kathleen Klein
Family Law Group
The Ohio State University College of Law
Marta Stewart-Bates
Health, Education, Work, Income & Immigration Group
Nadia Zaiem
Health, Education, Work, Income & Immigration Group
Wayne State University Law School
Kimberly M. Adams
Community Engagement Group
William Mitchell College of Law
Maria Trafton
Elyria Office
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland provides high-quality free legal assistance to low income clients in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain and Geauga counties. Legal Aid's mission is to secure justice and resolve fundamental problems for those who are low income and vulnerable by providing high quality legal services and working for systemic solutions. Founded in 1905, it is the fifth oldest organization of its kind in the US. For information, visit lasclev.org.