Last month, as part of BC Law’s Immigration Clinic, my clinic partner and I advocated for our client’s release from detention during a bond hearing in front of an immigration judge, and were denied. Given his circumstances of indefinite long-term incarceration and mental illness, this denial was heartbreaking and unjust in more ways than one. I dreaded making the call to my client to discuss the outcome of the hearing and our next steps. I expected to hear intense sadness and frustration, and I certainly would not have blamed him if he took part of that out on me. But instead – though he was undeniably sad – he told me that my argument was perfect and exactly what he would have wanted to say if he were able to speak during the hearing. He expressed his gratitude for all our hard work and representation, despite the outcome. Of all the responses I imagined, this perhaps shocked me the most.

Going into law school, I knew one thing: I enjoyed working significantly more than taking classes – which, yes, might have seemed a little antithetical to pursuing a graduate degree. However, as soon as I learned that clinics were even a possibility, I felt more at peace about committing to three years of law school. 

Prior to law school, when I was a paralegal for an immigration legal services organization, many of my colleagues recommended taking at least one clinic during law school. To this day, that remains one of the best pieces of law school advice I’ve received – and best choices I’ve made. 

When I think back to what motivated me to make the final decision to attend law school, I remember the immense impact that direct client work had on me. As a paralegal working on immigration asylum cases, we met our clients during some of the most difficult times in their lives. The experiences and skills I learned from my direct work with clients were unparalleled. This ultimately inspired me to become a lawyer to help guide people through intricate legal processes and feel empowered in their journeys through a legal system that is not always humanizing. 

So, moving forward, I decided to integrate experiential learning into my legal education as much as I could. During my 2L fall semester, I took the Family Justice Litigation Clinic. Currently, I am in the Immigration Clinic. And last but not least, I’ll finish my last year of law school in the Defenders Clinic. These clinics have not only deepened my understanding of each area of law, but also, through direct client work, provided me with invaluable experiences and lessons that extend far beyond the classroom (and courtroom).   

In the Family Justice Litigation Clinic, I worked on three cases across both juvenile court and probate and family court. I gained hands-on experience by working closely with clients – and their families at times – helping to build their cases and advocating on their behalf during status hearings and a guardianship hearing. My casework also taught me a great deal about the stigma attached to criminal records and how the perpetuation of this stigma can impact many aspects of a client’s life. Ultimately, I learned what it means to advocate zealously and to push the legal system to look beyond stigmas and stereotypes, recognizing and treating my clients with the dignity and humanity they deserve. 

This semester in the Immigration Clinic, I have been representing a client through his immigration bond and habeas proceedings. Amidst struggles with severe mental illness, he has been held in immigration detention for nearly two years. His case work has involved countless hours of research, writing, and collaboration. At the same time, I have grown throughout the process of building rapport and establishing a trusting relationship with him as his legal representative – something that can be especially challenging when your client has suffered significantly at the hands of the legal system thus far. 

I wish I could walk away from these clinics and announce that all my clients had happy endings and that every legal issue they faced was fully resolved. But that wasn’t quite the case either semester – and this is one of the most important lessons I’ve taken away from my clinical education.

The role of legal representation encompasses far more than just the outcome of the case, and it is quintessential to recognize and acknowledge the small victories along the way. 

Reflecting on the moment with my client after losing his hearing, I finally recognized its significance as a little victory. Though we have not yet “won” our client’s case, our legal representation provided him with a true voice in his legal proceedings. He felt he was able to advocate authentically to the court and be heard through the argument I made. During our weekly calls – though I didn’t always feel like I knew the “right thing” to say – I have been able to offer a listening ear free of judgment, a compassionate human connection, and guidance through an incredibly complicated legal process. Through pro bono representation, we also have been able to alleviate his burden of costly legal counsel. Though often understated, all these little victories are powerful – for our clients and for ourselves. 

In addition to honing numerous legal skills, my experiences in clinics have taught me the value of listening and resilience. I have learned firsthand how to work with clients in unimaginably challenging situations, how to better support and advocate by listening, how to adapt when things don’t go perfectly, and within all of that, how to sustain myself and my work in the legal profession. 

So, I am forever thankful for my former colleagues and everyone else who encouraged me to take (and keep doing) law school clinics. Clinics have been one of the hardest yet most fulfilling parts of my law school experience. The lessons I have learned in clinics beyond the classroom are irreplicable, and my clinical education has shaped both my career as a future lawyer and my life. 

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Natalie Reysa is a second-year student at BC Law. Contact her at reysa@bc.edu.