As a former camp counselor, tutor, and SAT prep course instructor, Caroline Kassir, ’26, has always enjoyed working with youth, so when she began her time at the Law School, she knew she wanted to pursue opportunities to use what she was learning to advocate for young people. This interest naturally drew her to the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Clinic (CJJC), where she has been working for the past year.

The CJJC, which is one of the Law School’s 15 clinics, is run by Clinical Professor Erica Zunkel, who is also the director of Clinical and Experiential Learning at the Law School. The CJJC provides pro bono representation to young people accused of delinquency or crime, and to individuals convicted as youths and now serving extreme sentences. The clinic also undertakes impact work to advance justice in the criminal system—which is precisely the kind of work Kassir was involved with as a student in the CJJC.

Please tell us about your clinical work.

I helped draft an amicus brief of clinical law professors in support of two certiorari petitions to the US Supreme Court. 

The two cases, Rutherford v. United States and Carter v. United States, involved a circuit split on the extent to which district courts can consider sentencing disparities created by changes in law in determining if there is a “extraordinary and compelling reason” for a sentence reduction. After the First Step Act, many folks who are in prison would receive sentences that are decades shorter if they were sentenced for the exact same crimes today. While half of the circuits allow district courts to consider this disparity, in tandem with full consideration of their individual circumstances, other circuits’ caselaw forbid it, leaving judges powerless to grant sentence reductions they otherwise would.

The Supreme Court ended up granting cert and heard oral arguments on these consolidated cases in November 2025.

What was your specific role in this project? 

I worked with my clinical professor, Erica Zunkel, and a former clinic student, Jaden Lessnick, ’23, to draft portions of the petition. Primarily, I helped research and write a portion of the brief that highlighted pairs of individuals who had received similar sentences for similar crimes and had demonstrated similar rehabilitation but were either granted or denied relief on the basis of the circuit split. 

What skills did you develop through this experience? 

I gained a lot of experience in in-depth, purpose-driven legal research and writing. Getting to dive this deep into both the development, entrenchment, and practical consequences of a legal issue was a level of detail that I hadn’t always been able to explore. Additionally, this experience helped me learn how to walk through every phase of the writing process as part of a team. I gained experience brainstorming strategy, taking first cracks at sections, reviewing the work of others, and incorporating feedback myself.

What was your biggest takeaway from working on the amicus brief?  

My biggest takeaway was understanding the level of responsibility we have as legal advocates to center real people impacted by the law in all that we do, whether we’re providing direct services or writing briefs to the highest court in the country. For the clients our clinic represents, the individuals we highlighted in this brief, and the countless other individuals denied relief because of the circuit split, legal issues like this one are often what stand between them and their freedom. The power we have to change lives through the law is an immense responsibility that I will strive to keep front and center in all my future work.

Was there anything about this experience that surprised you? 

I was surprised by how collaborative and supportive everyone I worked with was, from the people I was working with directly to the other members of the legal community we met with throughout the process. 

I had only become acquainted with this area of law a few months prior to the beginning of the drafting process, but I was treated as though I had value to add to every conversation. I think this gave me the confidence to really pour myself into the work and encouraged me learn and work as I hard as I could to earn that trust and respect. I was able to have this extraordinary experience because of Erica and Jaden’s trust and patience. They demonstrated to me how a clinical education constantly pushes you beyond what you think you’re capable of and how the people working with you are there to support you every step of the way. 

How has this experience changed your view of the law, the legal system, and/or your role as an advocate? 

This experience showed me the importance of storytelling within legal advocacy. Precise knowledge of the technical legal issues is crucial but knowing how to tell a story is an equally valuable part of diligent representation, and our brief relied on both in arguing that the Court should take this case.

How has your clinical work influenced your career goals or sense of purpose as a future lawyer? 

While I knew I wanted to work with young people, I was initially very intimidated by criminal work in general. This clinic, however, has helped me fall in love with it and made me determined to make it a part of my future career. I would love to keep doing post-conviction work, getting to speak with clients and their families and think about forgiveness, accountability, and moving forward through hardship.

What advice would you give a fellow student considering enrolling in a clinic? 

Do it! Clinic has been far and away the most rewarding part of my law school experience. It has given me the chance to dive into real legal challenges alongside some of the smartest, kindest people I’ve ever met. 

Clinic allows you to be part of something bigger than yourself—many wonderful CJJC students worked on these legal issues before me, and when I left for the summer, new students picked them up! Together, the practical, hands-on experience and opportunity for teamwork and collaboration across class-years that clinic provides is truly irreplaceable. 

Additionally, if you are at all nervous about clinical work because of its higher stakes for those outside yourself, that is all the more reason you should do it. Those nerves mean you care. Everything else can be learned!

Anything else you’d like to share? 

I’d just like to express my sincere gratitude to Erica Zunkel, Jaden Lessnick, every member of CJJC (past and present), and every client who has trusted this clinic with their story. This project is just one piece of the incredible work CJJC does and I feel so deeply lucky to be a part of it.