“As a student in the St. John’s University Consumer Justice for
the Elderly: Litigation Clinic, I represented a low-income senior
who was facing foreclosure of the home that she had owned for
several decades because of the fraudulent actions of unscrupulous
mortgage brokers and a bank’s deceptive lending practices. I made
several court appearances, negotiated stipulations and drafted and
briefed a motion for summary judgment in an effort to rescind the
mortgage and keep our client in her home.
The Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic provided a
nurturing environment to practically implement the concepts that I
learned in the Clinic seminar and in my other legal classes.
I particularly appreciated the Clinic’s hands-on approach to
learning. Although the professors were always there to support me
and provide guidance when necessary, I was responsible for
completing my work thoroughly and professionally. That experience
proved invaluable as I went forward in law school and later in my
legal career.
Indeed, my experience in the Clinic influenced my decision to
become a public interest attorney after graduation. While
participating in the Clinic, I became keenly aware of the vital
need for legal services for the indigent members of our
society.”
“The Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic affords
St. John’s students with an unrivaled law school experience: the
opportunity to advocate for real clients under the close
supervision of two inspiring mentors, Professors Goldweber and
Calabrese. The Clinic's clients are extremely sympathetic –
individuals who have worked their entire lives to purchase their
homes and save for retirement only to have their assets and
livelihood compromised by unscrupulous predatory lending scams,
fraud and unaffordable subprime mortgages.
As a Clinic student intern during the Fall 2008 semester and the
Clinic Dean’s Fellow from 2009 through 2010, I honed critical
lawyering skills, including investigatory fact-finding and
fact-analysis, oral advocacy, legal research and negotiation
proficiency, all of which will serve me well throughout my career
as an attorney. Most importantly, however, I credit the Clinic for
providing me with a solid foundation for the development of
attorney-client relationships as I worked on a large array of legal
issues for the Clinic's clients. Through office meetings with
clients and frequent follow-up communication, I cultivated strong
bonds with my clients and fostered relationships of trust and
confidence with them under the Clinic’s holistic lawyering
philosophy.
Working for the Clinic has been the highlight of my legal education
as the experience has provided me with the confidence and the tools
necessary to become an effective and zealous attorney. What the
Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic offers to
students, in addition to litigation, interviewing, counseling,
record-keeping, collaboration and time management skills, is the
rewarding privilege to serve as a lawyer. I highly recommend all
students to consider the unparalleled opportunities available
through participation in the Clinic.”