295.5P sec. 001 - Policy Advocacy Clinic (Fall 2020)
Instructor: Anavictoria Avila (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
Instructor: Stephanie Campos-Bui (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
Instructor: Ahmed Lavalais
Instructor: Jeffrey Selbin (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
Instructor: Devan Shea
Instructor: Rachel Wallace (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
Instructor: Maiya Zwerling (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 1 - 10
Grading Designation: Credit Only
Due to COVID-19, this class is remote for Fall 2020.
Mode of Instruction: Remote Instruction
Course End: November 24, 2020
Class Number: 32236
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 8
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 12
As of: 12/07 09:41 AM
This is the fieldwork component of the Policy Advocacy Clinic, where interdisciplinary teams of law and public policy students pursue non-litigation strategies to address systemic racial, economic, and social injustice. The clinic’s approach is ground-up (informed by impacted people), problem-based (addressing pressing issues) and client-driven (accountable to community organizations). Students support local and state change campaigns while exploring their capacities and limits to influence law and public policy.
Current projects include efforts to abolish regressive and racially discriminatory monetary sanctions (fines, fees and restitution) imposed on people in the criminal legal system, with a special emphasis on the interests of youth and families. A multi-year campaign to abolish juvenile fines and fees nationally may require clinic-funded travel outside of California.
In the clinic, students learn substantive law and policy skills. They interview clients and experts, conduct legal and social science research and analysis, consult stakeholders (community members, policy and advocacy organizations, public officials, academics), file public records requests, and participate in reform campaigns.
On behalf of clients and partners, students complete written assignments, including: draft legislation, rules, and policies; internal work product such as memos; and external work product for public dissemination, such as fact sheets, public comments, policy briefs, research reports, practice manuals, and know your rights materials.
Students will also hone their oral advocacy skills by preparing, mooting, and delivering testimony and public comment to a variety of audiences, including city councils, county boards of supervisors, regulatory bodies, and state legislatures.
The enrollment target is 8-12 JD students and 8-12 MPP students to work on project teams. Returning students may serve as senior advisors on each team. There are no prerequisites. Prior experience working for racial, economic, and social justice may be taken into consideration, and the instructors strive to build and foster an equitable and inclusive clinic environment.
Because of project demands, first-time clinic students may not enroll concurrently in another clinic or field placement. Enrollment in the seminar (2 credit) and clinic is by permission of the instructors. Interested students should apply here: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/php-programs/forms/clinics/clinical_application.php.
Real-time attendance at the first Zoom class is mandatory for all currently enrolled and waitlisted students; any currently enrolled or waitlisted students who are not present on the first day of class (without prior permission of the instructor) will be dropped. The instructor will continue to take attendance throughout the add/drop period and anyone who moves off the waitlist into the class must continue to attend or have prior permission of the instructor in order not to be dropped.
Prerequisites:
The clinic seminar (Law 290A) is a co-requisite.
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Requirements Satisfaction:
Work in the clinic may satisfy Option 2 of the J.D. writing requirement with instructor approval. In order to satisfy Option 2, clinic students must complete a paper or series of written work that comprises 30 or more pages. Students who wish to satisfy the writing requirement must get instructor approval and submit their draft for comment and revision.
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Exam Notes: (None) Class requires a series of papers, assignments, or presentations throughout the semester
Course Category: Clinics
This course is listed in the following sub-categories:
Social Justice and Public Interest
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Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Instructor has indicated that no books will be assigned.