My Nonprofit Reviews
Greg Z.
Review for The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, Inc., Washington, DC, USA
As a summer law clerk at the Legal Clinic, I was alternately humbled and awed by the commitment, skill, and success the Clinic's lawyers and staff demonstrated while advocating for our clients. Their expertise and excellence, along with the efforts of our clients--who themselves inspired me with their steadfast advocacy--motivated me to improve my traditional legal skills and expand my understanding of what effective lawyering should be. From client intake interviews to shelter termination reviews to commenting on proposed federal regulations affecting the homeless community, I engaged in both direct representation and policy advocacy this summer. The Legal Clinic's close connection to its clients and the Washington community informs not only its first-rate legal representation, but also its work in policy. When the Legal Clinic proposes a fair budget that works for all Washingtonians, stakeholders can be assured that the proposal serves the broad interest of the community. I finished the summer with a great admiration for this model of legal advocacy, and I believe more organizations should seek to replicate it in their own work. Last, but certainly not least, the Legal Clinic amplifies the voices of members of our community who are too often ignored in our political debate. The Clinic doesn't merely preach values of justice and inclusion--it practices them on a daily basis. The Legal Clinic walks with our neighbors in need and fights with them to create a Washington of which we all can be proud and in which we can all prosper.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My growth as a future attorney. Through the technical legal skills (client representation, research and writing, oral advocacy, administrative law) and broader advocacy skills (media outreach, organizing, informal advocacy with social service providers) I gained this past summer, I have greatly improved my capacity for critical and creative lawyering.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
enlarge its budget in order to hire more staff and attorneys to handle the Clinic's growing caseload. In an economic irony, downturns present increased challenges for the Legal Clinic's fundraising, while simultaneously causing more people to be at risk or to experience homelessness. In these difficult times, the Clinic should be growing to serve the needs of our community.
