Through 2024, our clinical program continues to thrive and grow as we advance our
vital missions of excellent legal education, deep professional formation, and effective
access to justice. The legal clinics at the heart of our enterprise aim to prepare
law students to become lawyers who bring light and dignity to the world. In a moment
of political polarization, global crises, and national upheaval, we commit to the
development of smart, ready, ethical lawyers with hearts and minds for justice and
to the promotion of just laws and legal systems.
At the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, our communities and neighbors have suffered
extraordinary losses from natural disasters. We are rising to meet those needs. Our
standing clinics have been flexible and creative to teach students with major disruptions
and to continue excellent services to our clients. Our Disaster Relief Clinic and
Pro Bono programs have activated immediate programs for community education, lawyer
training, and limited-scope clinics in neighborhoods wounded in the fires. Already
we have served hundreds of clients and trained hundreds more lawyers. We are taking
steps now to expand and deepen this work for Los Angeles for the duration of recovery
and rebuilding.
Our standing nine clinics provided tens of thousands of hours of pro bono, public
interest legal services to worthy clients. Across diverse practice areas and practice
styles, our students learn through supervised practice in litigation, trial and appellate
practice; civil and tax practice; mediation and family law; corporate and transactional
practice; local, national, and international practice. We teach for transfer, so students
may translate all these experiences into any area of practice.
In our robust Externship Program, hundreds of students work in diverse field placements
each year. They work throughout Southern California in the Fall and Spring semesters.
In the summer, students work in field placements throughout the nation and the world.
Our students work in externships globally through our London Program, the Washington
DC Externship Semester, and the Sudreau Global Justice Initiative in Uganda, Rwanda,
and Ghana.
Prof. Fendel continues to expand our pro bono programs. This year, we have initiatives
with pro bono partners in housing justice, immigration advocacy, veterans services,
and natural disaster responses. We received significant donations to further expand
and establish our pro bono programs next year.
We continue to expand our stipend-funded programs for students working in public interest
placements. Each summer, our law school funds summer stipends for students working
in unpaid public interest programs. For years, we have been able to fund every student
who applies with eligible work to assist with their provision during the summer, to
reduce debt load incrementally, and to empower them to take on work for the common
good.
In our programs, everything is pedagogy; every client, matter, task, and conversation
present opportunities to teach and learn. Our students and faculty serve clients from
Skid Row to the Ninth Circuit, from state courts to the IRS, from the US to four other
continents, through litigation, mediation, transactions and every step of client-centered
advice, counsel, and advocacy.
I invite you to read the following stories from the Legal Aid Clinic, Mediation Clinic,
Ninth Circuit Appellate Advocacy Clinic, Community Justice Clinic, Restoration and
Justice Clinic, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, Faith and Family Mediation Clinic, Startup
Law Clinic, and the Religious Liberty Clinic. Here you can also learn about our expansive
Externship Program and growing pro bono opportunities.
Religious Liberty Clinic
The Hugh and Hazel Darling Religious Liberty Clinic at Pepperdine Caruso Law was launched
in spring 2022 and has helped score victories for religious liberty all the way up
to the United States Supreme Court.
The Religious Liberty Clinic allows interested second and third-year students to get
practical, hands-on experience working on religious liberty cases under the supervision
of expert attorneys from global law firm Jones Day, including former Solicitor General
of the United States Noel Francisco. The Clinic enrolls 8-10 students per semester
in a seminar-style class that includes active, supervised practice in cases protecting
religious liberty rights. Clinic students participate in amicus curiae briefs, appeals,
and advocacy to advance religious liberty. Returning students can participate in the
advanced seminar and also have the option of participating in an academic seminar
to discuss current issues in religious liberty law with scholars from across the country.
The Clinic explores enduring questions relating to how civil governments treat the
religious beliefs, expressions, and institutions of their citizens and residents.
Since its inception in spring 2022, the Clinic has filed numerous amicus briefs at
courts of many different levels, including federal district court, state appeals court,
multiple federal courts of appeals, and thrice at the United States Supreme Court.
In a recent decision from June 2023, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion
in favor of a religious plaintiff who sought a work accommodation to observe his Sabbath.
The Court created a new, more favorable standard for religious claimants, and in reaching
its decision, the Supreme Court quoted the Clinic’s amicus brief by name and cited to cases found in the Clinic’s amicus brief.
The Clinic’s clients included various religious denominations, religious universities,
and the American Legion. This year, the Clinic filed its first direct-representation
lawsuit in a challenge to a county policy excluding houses of worship from historic
preservation funds.
Visiting professor Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at the Becket
Fund for Religious Liberty, serves as the inaugural faculty director of the clinic.
The course is co-taught by Professor Rassbach and Caruso Law Professor Michael Helfand.
In 2023 Daniel Chen, counsel at the Becket Fund, began teaching with the Clinic.
For more information, visit the Religious Liberty Clinic page.
Legal Aid Clinic
The Pepperdine Legal Aid Clinic enters its 26th year, providing multi-site legal services
to clients and guests of Union Rescue Mission and Covenant House California. Additionally,
the Clinic receives referrals from a wide variety of government agencies and community
programs, providing opportunities to serve clients representing a broad cross-section
of those living in Los Angeles. The Clinic has trained hundreds of law students and
provided free legal services to thousands of clients. Pepperdine law students serving
in the clinic assist clients in a variety of civil matters, including family law,
income tax, consumer law, benefit controversies and post-conviction re-entry. With
intensive instruction and guidance, students perform client interviewing and counseling,
legal research, and motion preparation. This year, students assisted approximately
150 new clients with over 600 matters. In addition, the Clinic provides legal education
programs to various social service organizations and community groups all throughout
Los Angeles. Professor Brittany Stringfellow-Otey has directed the clinic and overseen
student work for over 20 years.
For video highlights, with client and student interviews, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kN_N5d-Wzc
For more information visit the Legal Aid Clinic web page.
Community Justice Clinic
This year the Community Justice Clinic continued its service to nonprofits, NGOs,
and community organizations devoted to human rights, economic development, and social
justice in the US and abroad. The Clinic's mission is to empower its clients for creative,
resilient, useful work as they promote human dignity and just, loving communities.
The clinic has represented nonprofits, farms, peacemakers, gardeners, teachers, physicians,
artists, and organizers devoted to their neighbors and neighborhoods. For example,
CJC students counseled a new nonprofit developing pathways and mentorship for underserved
students in Los Angeles to translate artistic talent into design careers. They have
advised a nonprofit providing pro bono mediation services in small claims court. They
have worked with local-led NGOs advancing economic development in Uganda, Ghana, and
The Gambia. They have served nonprofits devoted to women's health and justice in maternal
medicine. They have advocated for a community organization providing dignified, safe
work for migrant day-laborers. They have counseled after-school programs and community
organizations devoted to access to education and social mobility. Students have prepared
trademark applications for a nonprofit publishing house that is amplifying writers
from often marginalized communities. Students are working with other partners to research
human rights laws and government benefits for victims of human trafficking.
Students and clients in the Community Justice Clinic work and learn with professionalism,
creativity, and passion for justice.
Professor Jeff Baker directs the Community Justice Clinic and supervises students'
work.
For more information, visit the Community Justic Clinic web page.
Ninth Circuit Appellate Advocacy Clinic
In 2024, the Ninth Circuit Appellate Advocacy Clinic represented clients in two civil
rights cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
In the spring semester, graduating 3Ls Ellie Ritter and Mary Trotter completed briefing
and presented oral argument on behalf of Sandy Eulitt, a plaintiff pursuing civil
rights claims against the City of San Diego.
Ms. Eulitt brought a pro se lawsuit to challenge the City’s policy of evicting RV
park residents after six months. Eulitt had received a disability accommodation from
her landlord, permitting her to stay more than six months. But she alleged that the
City nevertheless forced her landlord to evict her under the six-month policy. Her
lawsuit claimed that the City’s policy violates both the Americans with Disabilities
Act and the Fair Housing Act.
The district court dismissed Eulitt’s complaint for failure to state a claim. She
appealed to the Ninth Circuit, which appointed the Pepperdine Caruso Law Ninth Circuit
Appellate Advocacy Clinic to represent her on appeal. After briefing and argument,
the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Eulitt and reversed the district court’s order
of dismissal. The court also directed the district court to permit Eulitt to amend
her complaint if necessary to address new factual claims that the City tried to raise
for the first time on appeal.
In the fall semester, 3Ls Kristin O’Bryan and Rachel Trauner completed briefing and
presented oral argument on behalf of Jerry Lee King, who is incarcerated in a California
state prison. King is a plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging that he was beaten by prison
guards shortly after he arrived at the prison. The guards persuaded the district court
to dismiss King’s lawsuit on the ground that he had pleaded no contest to a charge
of resisting arrest arising out of the same incident, and that if King succeeded in
his civil lawsuit, it would imply that his criminal conviction was invalid.
King, who represented himself in the district court, appealed to the Ninth Circuit,
which appointed the Pepperdine Caruso Law Ninth Circuit Appellate Advocacy clinic
to represent him on appeal. O’Bryan and Trauner briefed the case and presented oral
argument in November 2024 and the court is expected to issue its decision in 2025.
Professors Curt Cutting and Rebecca Powell direct the Ninth Circuit Appellate Advocacy
Clinic and supervise students' work.
For more information, visit the Ninth Circuit Appellate Advocacy Clinic page.
Restoration and Justice Clinic
The Restoration and Justice Clinic (RJC) remains committed to serving victims of domestic
violence and human trafficking in Los Angeles and nationwide, and in the past year,
the Restoration and Justice Clinic helped many survivors escape harm and begin anew.
RJC students engaged in a variety of advocacy from obtaining domestic violence restraining
orders for victims after trials in Los Angeles County to defending victims at trial
against retaliatory restraining orders filed against them, counseling sex trafficking
victims, and clearing their records from the periods of their life when they were
subject to forced criminalization.
The clinic maintained current partnerships with L.A.-based legal organizations and
forged new relationships with legal service providers. RJC is a member of the LA-based
working group of advocates, law clinics, courts, legal services organizations, prosecutors,
and public defenders practicing California vacatur (expungement plus sealing) laws
for human trafficking victims.
This year, the RJC collaborated with its Michigan-based legal partner, The Joseph
Project, to raise awareness about forced criminalization, sex trafficking, and the
power of legal organization-law clinic partnerships in this short video.
Clinical Professor of Law Tanya Asim Cooper directs the Restoration and Justice Clinic.
For more information, visit the Restoration and Justice Clinic page.
Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic
The Pepperdine Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (PLITC) continues its steadfast commitment
to providing vital tax controversy assistance to low-income individuals. As we address
the challenges of a dynamic tax environment, our tax clinic enables us to serve clients
effectively while offering students hands-on opportunities to grow as skilled advocates.
Over the past year, the PLITC achieved a major milestone by successfully resolving
complex IRS cases. One case that we just resolved took over 5 years. Our client, initially
informed us they owed a significant amount to the IRS and struggled to navigate the
intricacies of tax law. Through our advocacy, and persistence, our students uncovered
that the client did not owe as much in taxes as the IRS stated. At the end we were
able to secure an $18,000 refund to our client. This victory not only exemplifies
the clinic's dedication to its clients but also demonstrates the transformative impact
of empowering students to tackle real-world cases.
The dedication and excellence of our students remain at the heart of the PLITC. One
notable success story involves a student who was weighing the choice between joining
our clinic and accepting a paid externship. After opting for the clinic, they not
only gained valuable experience but also secured a coveted summer internship with
a Big 4 accounting firm. This achievement highlights how the clinic equips students
with the skills and confidence to excel in their future careers.
The clinic continues to address a wide range of tax controversies, including audits,
examinations, collection issues, and access to critical tax benefits like the Earned
Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Our students’ work directly contributes to
the financial stability of our clients and their families, fostering recovery and
resilience within the community. Under the leadership of Professor Isai Cortez, the
PLITC remains a cornerstone of Pepperdine’s mission to combine service, education,
and advocacy. As we reflect on our accomplishments, we look forward to another year
of empowering students and uplifting those most in need.
Faith and Family Mediation Clinic
Over the last year, students in the clinic worked on 10 live mediations and effectuated
9 agreements that provided those families with peaceful resolutions to their end of
marriage issues.
Prof. Sarah Nissel has published an article arising from the work of the clinic, "Execute
Justice and Charity for Your People: Jewish Divorce Mediation as a Model for Intrareligious
Peacekeeping," forthcoming in the upcoming edition of religions journal: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/1/45.
Mediation Law Clinic
The Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law through
the Mediation Clinic has continued its ongoing collaboration with the Center for Conflict
Resolution providing day-of-hearing mediation services to litigants on the unlawful
detainer, small claims, and civil harassment calendars at Los Angeles Superior Court.
The Mediation Clinic includes students from the LLM and MDR programs, with seats for
scores of students each year, serving in courts across Los Angeles County to provide
pro bono mediation services to hundreds of pro per litigants. Students in the Mediation
Clinic have the opportunity to mediate various types of cases including landlord/tenant,
employment, and consumer cases.
Professor Stephanie Blondell directs the Mediation Clinic and supervises students'
work.
For more information, visit the Mediation Law Clinic page.
Startup Law Clinic
The students at the Startup Law Clinic (SLC) continue to serve and represent entrepreneurs
of technology startups with corporate formation, founders' stock issuances and capitalization,
corporate governance, tech transactions, early stage angel investor financings and
venture capital transactions. Each semester, the students are divided into teams advising
a group of startups involved in various technology sectors.
The Startup Law Clinic is going on its 7th year of representing startups primarily
in the technology space. Within the last few years, we have helped launch and incorporate
over 60 startups. Many of these startups have closed multiple rounds of early stage
and venture capital financing, and a few have had exits via acquisition. Some of
our clients have received funding from some of the top venture capital firms in the
country and have been accepted into Silicon Valley accelerators to continue to grow
their startup. The clients coming through our doors have spanned the technology sector
including edtech, health technology, social community platforms, augmented reality,
drone technology and countless other exciting areas.
The teams of students worked with the Delaware Secretary of State to successfully
incorporate their clients. They also advised their clients and drafted the necessary
documents to adopt bylaws, complete the board consent in lieu of initial meeting,
and execute restricted stock purchase agreements. The students took the lead on conference
calls with clients answering questions relating to the state of incorporation, issuance
and sale of stock, composition of board of directors and executive officers, and establishing
an advisory board. As part of the corporate formation, the students subsequently qualified
their clients in various states in order to conduct business pursuant to state law.
In addition, the students conducted blue sky state securities law research in each
of those states to make the necessary state filings to obtain an exemption from securities
registration. Finally, our SLC students provided guidance to the clients regarding
early stage financing structure and strategy discussing (i) debt versus equity financings,
(ii) convertible bridge note structures and (iii) startup valuation. By coming through
the clinic, our startups will have the foundation and structure to be venture capital
funding-ready.
For our students, the Startup Law Clinic exists to bridge the gap from law student
to a practicing transactional attorney in a law firm. As these students graduate and
become attorneys, they will have to learn very quickly how to convert their head knowledge
of legal concepts to the practical execution of representing technology clients, drafting
documents, redlining agreements and closing transactions. The aim of the Startup Law
Clinic is to give them a competitive advantage so that they can hit the ground running.
Professor Sam Wu directs the Startup Law Clinic and supervises students' work.
For more information, visit the Startup Law Clinic page.