Kids’ Court School’s 1,000th Child Celebration

The Kids’ Court School had its 1,000th Child Celebration on March 13 in the Thomas & Mack Moot Court. The Kids’ Court School, a 2012 Harvard University Bright Idea Award winner, is a nationally recognized program that educates children and youth about the judicial process and teaches strategies to reduce system-related stress. Children, ages 4-17 with impending legal proceedings, attend 2 one-hour sessions, at no cost, to learn about court.

The 1,000th Child Celebration began with an overview of the Kids’ Court School and a demonstration of the program. Two children, ages 6 and 7, were taught the curriculum by a law student and then participated in a mock trial with additional law students assuming the roles of various courtroom participants, such as the bailiff, and prosecuting and defense attorneys. The demonstration enabled attendees to see what is taught at the Kids’ Court School. Moreover, it enabled the audience to observe the effects of the program on young children’s legal knowledge as well as their anxiety about testifying in a (mock) trial. The demonstration was followed by a keynote address titled, “Child Witnesses: From Research to Practice.” A Certificate of Commendation was then presented by Senator Harry Reid’s office “In commendation of Kids’ Court School having served 1,000 children in Nevada by educating them about the judicial process and empowering them to have a voice in court.” A reception followed.

Mediation Clinic Students Mediate Over 60 Cases

The Fall 2014 Mediation Clinic enjoyed a flurry of activity as it continued to provide mediation services to its community partners, the Clark County Neighborhood Justice Center and the Clark County Family Court. Students mediated over 60 cases involving child custody matters, debt and asset distribution in divorce, as well as civil claims ranging from landlord tenant disputes, debt collection, and breach of contract. Students not only developed their skills as third-party neutral facilitators, but they also observed what effective client advocacy looks like at the mediation table. Joining the Mediation Clinic’s supervising faculty was Saltman Graduate Fellow Jeannette (Jae) Barrick (Boyd ’13), who shared with students her invaluable perspective as a practicing family law attorney.

Immigration Clinic Student Attorney Overturns 14-Year-Old Deportation Order

Immigration Clinic student attorney Jose Martin persuaded the Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen a 14-year-old deportation order against a father of three. The client had been ordered deported because of a 15-year-old criminal conviction that the immigration judge incorrectly believed to be an aggravated felony. More recent decisions have made clear that it is not. Reopening old deportation orders is not a right, and thus presented a difficult advocacy problem, especially without the support of the Department of Homeland Security. Though the client faces an uphill battle, Jose’s work may keep a family together by lifting the immediate threat of deportation.

One Clinic Alumna, and One Clinic Brief, Preserve Freedom for Many

When tens of thousands of mothers and children fled violence in Central America in 2014, the U.S. Government’s first reaction was to detain them at remote private facilities in New Mexico and Texas. When the families filed credible asylum claims, many immigration judges began to release them on bond. But the Department of Homeland Security appealed, claiming the women and children pose a national security threat.

Student attorneys Geordan Logan and Keely Perdue partnered with alumna Sarah Perez (Boyd ’12) to defend the release orders. Their brief, which has been adapted and used in some two-dozen cases in Texas, attacked the government’s claims that families with children who had already been found to have credible asylum claims could be called a national security risk. In every known case that was decided, the Board of Immigration Appeals affirmed the bond, letting the mothers and children remain free while they complete their asylum applications. In February, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a preliminary injunction forbidding DHS from refusing bond for families with credible asylum claims.

Family Justice Clinic Alumna Receives a Unique “Thank You”

Before winter break, a prospective client contacted the clinic looking for assistance with a Guardianship petition. The client explained that she has a disability that made the process of completing legal forms more difficult. Although the call came at the end of the semester when students were unavailable, Graduate Fellow Jessica Perlick (Boyd ’13) took the case and worked on it during the winter break. Jessica successfully secured the client guardianship of her grandchildren. A few weeks later, to Jessica’s surprise and delight, she received a wonderful over-sized card from the client that was signed and decorated with smiley-face stickers by the grandchildren over whom the client now had legal guardianship.

Small Business and Nonprofit Legal Clinic

Student attorneys in the inaugural Small Business and Nonprofit Legal Clinic have embarked on a range of client projects, including forming a nonprofit that mentors children who have lost a guardian, representing a company that provides translations of self-help legal forms, and helping a nonprofit address the problem of unlicensed elder care facilities. In addition, the clinic helped the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities apply for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service.  The Guinn Center is a nonprofit, bipartisan, "think-do" tank that provides analysis of critical policy issues facing the state of Nevada. The Guinn Center was awarded tax-exempt status in August 2014.

Juvenile Justice

Students in the Juvenile Justice Clinic are extending their representation of their clients to include post-disposition work. By maintaining our close relationships with our clients during this crucial phase, we are able to assist them with, among other things, school disciplinary matters and compliance with conditions of probation, and thereby minimize recidivism.

Appellate Pro Bono

This fall law students are earning pro bono service hours handling pro bono appeals in the Nevada Supreme Court. Professor Anne Traum, who directs the Appellate Clinic and was instrumental in expanding the Nevada Appellate Pro Bono Program, recruited students to volunteer to work on the cases under the school’s Partners in Pro Bono Program, which pairs law students with attorneys handling pro bono cases. In September eight law students were paired with eight experienced appellate lawyers to handle pro bono appeals from around the state.  Having this one-on-one opportunity to work with an experienced lawyer is a valuable practical experience for students, who can get certified as student attorneys and handle most attorney tasks under supervision.  Student who complete sixty hours of pro bono service earn “Pro Bono Honors” on their transcript.

Mediation Clinic

The Mediation Clinic continues to work in partnership with Clark County's Family Court and the Neighborhood Justice Center where students mediate divorce and small claims cases.  In addition, Mediation Clinic students are engaged in projects to educate the legal community about different kinds of mediation and are also developing mediation training materials for mediators of small claims cases.

Immigration Detention Project

In November 2013, the Immigration Clinic published a report on conditions for immigration detainees at the Henderson Detention Center. The report has attracted attention from the media, congressional representatives, and community organizations. In partnership with PLAN Nevada and Mi Familia Vota, the Immigration Clinic continues to work towards detention reforms. Congressman Steven Horsford will chair an ad hoc congressional hearing on immigration on March 17, 2014, in North Las Vegas, where the Immigration Clinic will present its key findings on detention conditions and concerns about ICE's failure to follow prosecutorial discretion policies.

Family Justice

With the launch of the Post-Conviction Community Needs Assessment Project, the Family Justice Clinic (“FJC”) continues to explore the impact of criminalization on the family.

Juvenile Justice

Motivated by their experience representing children in juvenile court last semester, students in the Juvenile Justice Clinic under the leadership of Professor Mary Berkheiser are working on a policy proposal to develop “safe harbors” for child victims of sex trafficking so that these children are provided assistance and not simply prosecuted as offenders.

Externships

Professor Jean Whitney has been appointed as UNLV’s new Externship Director, after serving in that position on an interim basis since 2012. In Spring 2014, 29 students are serving as externs in 29 different placements - 17 in judicial placements, 20 in Government & Public Interest placements, and 1 each in Congressional and Legislative placements – including the Cook Inlet Housing Authority in Anchorage, Alaska, and the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division in Washington, D.C.

Immigration

In an innovative pilot program designed to implement the Sixth Amendment rights of immigrants, students in the Immigration Clinic are advising the Clark County Public Defender on criminal cases that might have immigration consequences.

Mediation

The Strasser Mediation Clinic is exploring how it can help inmates in Nevada's prisons to reintegrate into their communities with pre-release mediation services.