Giving Back at the Woodlawn Clinic
On the second Wednesday of October, with just two weeks of classes under her belt, Whittney Barth, ’19, volunteered for the first time at the Woodlawn Legal Clinic—a community resource that offers free legal services to those in need. When she arrived, she saw that every seat in the lobby was filled. Many had shown up hours early just to ensure they’d have the chance to meet with a lawyer.
Right away, Barth was paired with volunteer attorney, and when they sat down to gather facts on their first case, she was struck with an overwhelming feeling of vulnerability and responsibility—especially when she considered how difficult it must be for clients to share the intimate details of their lives with strangers. As she listened to their stories, took notes, and asked questions, she grew more confident, encouraged by the trust both the client and the volunteer attorney had given her.
In the span of three hours, they analyzed cases involving housing issues, medical bills, employment discrimination, and divorce. After gathering the facts of the case, Barth and the attorney consulted with the clinic’s attorneys from LAF, the largest provider of free civil legal aid in Cook County. The team then returned to the client to offer advice, and after each meeting, the client shook her hand. As they left, Barth hoped that she had made a difference in their lives. Navigating the chaos and coursework of her 1L year, it was the best reminder of why she went to law school in the first place.
“It was rewarding to meet people who’ve been struggling with a particular issue for a long time and have them realize that maybe there is hope in their case, and that they do have allies,” Barth said.
There is a need for low-cost legal representation in the Woodlawn neighborhood, and Law School students help address that need, clinic coordinators said. Clients who visit the clinic may do so after struggling with a particular issue for years—for them, it is often the first time they feel supported in tackling that issue.
“The clinic allows students to get involved and be responsible members of their community,” said Zeshawn Qadir, ’17, who is on the Law School's Pro Bono Board and coordinates student volunteers. “As future lawyers, we have the capability to make a profound impact for people facing challenging life situations and who have no one else to turn to.”
The Woodlawn Clinic—which meets at the AKArama Community Service Center in the Woodlawn neighborhood—began in 2010 as a partnership between LAF and DLA Piper that sought to make free legal assistance accessible to a community they felt was underserved. Regina Hernandez, the attorney with LAF who coordinates the clinic, is grateful for the Law School students who volunteer each month and help with the growing number of clients.
“Having the students consistently present, consistently eager, and committed to the work that we do makes a huge difference,” Hernandez said. “A Law School student partnered with an attorney helps both parties immensely in getting to what the real issue is—they end up being really valuable fact finders.”
Many cases are straightforward wins for the client, but others are tougher and could easily remain unresolved without the time and attention to detail that volunteers at the Woodlawn Clinic provide, Qadir said.
“With a lot of these cases, it was obvious that they were being mistreated,” he said, “but they didn’t know it, or didn’t know what to do about it. So when they came to the clinic, we knew we could really help them.”
Learning firsthand the impact that pro bono work can have on people’s lives is a crucial experience for law students—and one they should have as soon as possible in their law school careers, Hernandez said.
“Getting this kind of face-to-face client contact early on is giving students the most practical experience they can get,” she said. “I think the skills that law students develop when working with real people and putting a face to the case file—they stay with them in a meaningful way.”
The clinic’s location, just a few blocks from campus, offers Law School students a unique opportunity to make an impact through pro bono work in the surrounding community.
“I found the Woodlawn Clinic particularly attractive because it was right here in our own neighborhood,” Barth said. “We have a responsibility to learn from each other and be as of much assistance to our neighbors as we possibly can.”
After graduation, Qadir will stay in Chicago to do corporate work at Sidley Austin LLP. Providing legal services through pro bono volunteering will continue to be a priority in his career, he said.
“I think many law students believe that they have to choose between a career in public interest or working for corporate clients,” Qadir said. “But honestly, you can make a meaningful impact regardless of the career path that you ultimately choose.”