Real Cases. Real Experience.
“Participating in the Children’s Rights Clinic was truly one of the highlights of my time at the law school. During the two semesters I spent in the Clinic, I interacted with clients on almost a daily basis and advocated for their interests in open court. For one case in particular, I interviewed expert witnesses and then conducted direct and cross-examination of those witnesses in court during a contested hearing. I also learned an extensive amount from the fantastic faculty members in the Clinic. Beyond the sheer practical benefits of participating in the Clinic, I also found the work to be extremely rewarding. The Clinic provides a unique opportunity to give back to the community by helping children through a legal process that may potentially impact the rest of their lives. I cannot endorse the Clinic enough. It is truly a wonderful opportunity at UT Law.”
—Kelli Benham, ’10
“ Being a student attorney in the Children's Rights Clinic allowed me to first-chair cases in court, have substantial interaction with clients, and represent my clients in mediations. I had the opportunity to do all of that in English and in Spanish. Also, I learned "soft skills" every lawyer needs, and which can only be learned through experience. Children's Rights Clinic helped me acquire those skills much sooner than many of colleagues. Most of all, I love kids, and getting a chance to represent them as a law student brought back a little of my humanity.”
—Happy Rahman, ’07, associate at Scanlan, Buckle & Young in Austin, TX
“The Children’s Rights Clinic gave me the opportunity to see that the practice of law entails much more than the three years of legal theory one learns in the classroom. It gave me the opportunity to represent innocent children for whom I felt much sympathy. I know I made a difference in these children’s lives. Also, legal representation of these clients provides a valuable contribution to the community.”
—Albert Solis, ’03
“The Children’s Rights Clinic has been the one of the most valuable experiences I have had in law school. Not only did it give me the opportunity to get practical, hands-on experience in litigation, it allowed me to work with children. I know that the knowledge and skills I gained in the clinic will continue to help me throughout my legal career.”
—Katari Buck, ’03
“The interaction in Children’s Rights Clinic with children and their families opened my eyes to the need for caring, qualified people in this field. It also enhanced my perspective of the child-protection process. Realizing the impact one person can have in the life of a child has affected my priorities and made me immensely grateful for this chance. The skills I learned in dealing with clients and their expectations from attorneys has universal application.”
—Jennifer Underwood, ’03