The Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy

The gap between the rich and poor is growing wider. Access to justice is diminishing for some of the neediest populations. What can law students do to address this? How do law schools – curriculum, clinics, externships, and other learning opportunities – shape future poverty lawyers?

This Symposium Event will feature views from the field and views from academia on the roles that legal clinics and legal curriculum play in creating access to justice for impoverished persons, particularly in the District of Columbia. This event is a parallel program to that held at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS). The AALS sections on Clinical Legal Education and Poverty Law held a joint program entitled “Fostering Justice and Public Service: Preparing Students to be Active Participants in Developing the Law, Legal Processes, and Legal Systems” featured several authors discussing the role of pedagogy in instilling a sense of justice in law students.

The Symposium issue of the Journal, Volume 18.3, will feature the articles written by authors who presented their papers at the AALS conference.

Feature Presentations by Authors:

“Justice Through Unbundled Legal Services?”

Prof. Jessica Steinberg, George Washington University Law School

“Opportunities for Justice in the Law School Curriculum”

Prof. Susan Waysdorf, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

Prof. Laurie Morin, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

“The Clinical Development of a Poverty Lawyer”

Prof. Douglas Colbert, University of Maryland School of Law

Colleen Shanahan, Clinical Fellow, Georgetown University Law Center

Each panel presentation will feature the author’s discussion of the paper, with commentary from academics and D.C. community members. Commentators include Prof. Jane Aiken, Prof. Wallace Mlyniec, and Prof. Peter Edelman of Georgetown Law; Prof. Margaret Barry of Catholic University, Julie Becker of the Legal Aid Society of D.C.; and Richard Zorza of the Self-Represented Litigation Network

Questions? Contact Veena Srinivasa at vks7@law.georgetown.edu for more information.

Revised Mar. 29, 2011 (SSC)