We recently heard the following from Matthew Herr, who graduated in 2014 after serving in the Civil Legal Assistance Clinic for the 2013-14 academic year:
Serving
in the UNC Civil Legal Assistance Clinic was one of the most meaningful things
I did during law school. Although the ability to “think like a lawyer” is
necessary to passing law school exams, the abilities to draft effective – and
properly formatted – legal documents, interact with clients and opposing
counsel, and think strategically about how best to serve your client’s needs
are necessary to the practice of law. Under the thoughtful guidance of
the Civil Clinic faculty, I received training on these skills in spades. Serving in the Civil Clinic also reminded me why I went to law school in the
first place. Whether it was ensuring that a child with a disability would
stay in school, or helping a wrongfully evicted client recover his possessions
(including his family’s Christmas decorations, right before the holidays),
seeing the impact I could have on other peoples’ lives had an equally strong
impact on me. Currently, I serve as a law clerk to Chief Judge Linda
McGee at the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and my experiences from the Civil
Clinic are a daily reminder that behind every brief that comes across my desk,
there is a person or group of people relying on the law to bring order to an
often chaotic world. As I continue to grow professionally, I have no
doubt that the invaluable lessons I learned in the Civil Clinic will stay with
me and make me a better lawyer.
Thanks for checking in, Matthew -- please keep in touch.
Posted by Erika K. Wilson on Thu. May 28, 2015 1:47 PM
Categories:
Civil Legal Assistance Clinic, Clinic Alum Update