Southwestern Law School has joined Lawyers for America (LfA), becoming only the second law school in the nation to participate in the Lawyers for America Fellowship Program.
Originating at University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, LfA is designed to provide law students with practical training during their final year of law school and a service year post-graduation, while simultaneously expanding access to legal services in nonprofit and government agencies.
Through the collaboration with LfA, Southwestern students will complete a year-long externship during their final year of law school at partnering organizations.
Following graduation and the bar exam, they will return to these employers for a full year of paid service, offering critical legal assistance while further developing their practical skills.
Elena D’Agustino, public defender with the Solano County Public Defender’s office, said working with Lawyers for America since 2015 has been beneficial.
“Working with a third-year law student for a full school year gives us the opportunity to provide substantial training, and the student gets real-world experience that is unlike any other,” D’Agustino said. “After the bar exam, the fellow is now prepared to hit the ground running with more experience than many of our new attorney hires.”
Sami Jarbawi, program director of Lawyers for America at Southwestern, said this collaboration allows the school to provide students with a unique opportunity to gain substantial real-world experience while contributing to the important work of public service organizations.
The Lawyers for America Fellowship Program was created to address the significant gap in access to legal services, particularly in public law offices and nonprofits, by placing law students in these sectors to gain hands-on experience.
By taking part in the Lawyers for America program, the Southwestern helps students meet the demands of the legal profession and contributes to efforts to improve access to justice.
