The Youth Justice Education Clinic

The Youth Justice Education Clinic (“YJEC”) is a great opportunity for students interested in honing key civil litigation skills while advocating to obtain necessary educational rights and services for vulnerable children involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. YJEC offers two semesters of clinical experience, each semester includes a 2-unit course and a 2-unit clinic. Students are encouraged to sign up for the full year, but YJEC will fill open spots in the spring clinic and course during the fall. Fall and yearlong YJEC students will attend a 2-day orientation in August. New spring YJEC students will attend a 2-day orientation in January. YJEC receives cases through referrals from the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy’s Juvenile Justice Clinic and from outside agencies. While enrolled in the courses and clinics described below, each YJEC student will work on multiple cases and be responsible for all aspects of each client’s education case, including client interviewing, counseling, and representing each client in applicable proceedings. In order to provide the most well-rounded and client-centered advocacy, YJEC also addresses client issues beyond special education needs, including the following: access to Regional Center services under the Lanterman Act, discrimination under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act, and access to education for foster, homeless, and probation youth under California and Federal law.