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When we think of non-profits,
what comes to mind are big, well-
funded organizations that send solicitations
through the mail. But there are
many small organizations that we
never hear about whose founders set
out with little, if any, resources to accomplish
good things. Students in the
Community Development Law Clinic
(CDLC) provide invaluable support to
such organizations. During spring
2004, CDLC students saw two such
clients obtain full tax-exempt status
under District and federal law.
One of the organizations, founded
by an individual who was himself homeless, solicits and delivers food
and other necessary items to homeless
people who are unwilling (often out of fear) to go to shelters. The other organization,
founded by an individual
whose own life had been affected by
HIV/AIDS, provides vital support services
to women coming out of jail who
are infected with the virus. During the
summer, clinic interns Klohver
Tynes, ‘05, and Mary Burgess, ‘05,
began assisting a community organization
that represents the interests of
low-income residents who stand to be
displaced by a major real estate development
project. The organization is
mounting a challenge to the project
under D.C. zoning law.
The clinic’s clientele
also includes small businesses
who need legal assistance
but cannot afford lawyers. These
small businesses play a vital role in the
District’s economy and the welfare of its
citizens by creating opportunity for lower income individuals. For example, two
years ago the clinic helped a low-income
individual establish a lawn care service
which recently employed a young man on
probation. The clinic’s clients are engaged
in a variety of endeavors such as
graphic arts, music production, trucking,
and concierge and culinary services. The
clinic’s services include trademark and
copyright, contract drafting, entity formation
and general consultation on licensing,
zoning and other regulatory issues. The
clinic’s growing waiting list is testament
to the clinic’s reputation and the need in
the community for its services.
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About the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law Clinical Program
UDC-DCSL is unique.
At most other schools, learning
to practice law by representing
real people under the watchful
eye of an experienced law professor
is an option.
At UDC, clinical work is not an
option — it’s a requirement.
All UDC-DCSL law students
provide a minimum of 700
hours of public service legal
representation in at least two of
the School’s in-house legal clinics.
This work is in addition to the
minimum 40 hour Community
Service Requirement.
In clinic, students represent
children with special educational
needs, seniors and other
tenants or tenant organizations,
consumers, people with
HIV or AIDS, community organizations
or businesses.
Others students work with local
or national legislators or
advocacy organizations to
create law in Legislation Clinic.
As a result of the required
clinical program, all UDC-DCSL
students are sensitized
to how the American legal system
works — and often does
not work — on behalf of poor
people and the public interest.
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