“Foundation” is a word that comes to mind when I think of Law Center alumni. We simply would not be here without the support of alumni volunteers who commit countless hours to helping the Law Center educate students, advocate for justice, and serve community. Law students work under the supervision of attorneys to provide free legal services for low-income individuals with consumer, immigration, and workers’ rights matters. As important, the Law Center’s skill-building experience prepares our students for the legal profession while cementing a commitment to social justice advocacy. Read below about several ways alumni stay connected to the Law Center, from joining our staff as a Law Fellow, to serving on the Advisory Board, to teaming with us to provide legal clinics – law alumni keep our programs strong. Please join our annual virtual Celebration, “Community, Commitment & Courage,” on Thursday, September 30th at 5:30pm and hear from even more alumni. In these precarious times, it helps to pause, gather together, and give thanks for the strong foundation our law students (now alumni) built. I look forward to seeing you there! Deborah Moss West JD ’94 Consider making a gift; we’d be quite grateful. ALUMNI AND THE LAW CENTER TEAMED TO HOST A VIRTUAL EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC
The Law Center’s mission includes “training law students to be life-long social justice advocates.” And nothing pleases faculty and staff more than to see our alumni using their legal knowledge and skills to serve others. This summer the Law Center supported the work of two alumni in hosting a virtual Community Expungement Clinic on Saturday, August 28th. “I’d been in contact with two law center alumni over the last few years both doing expungement work; I knew that they had complimentary visions. I was glad to play a part in bringing them together and then to watch as the project blossomed,” said Deborah Moss-West. Sharine Xuan JD ’21 – founder & executive director of Elevate Community Center managed the logistics, infrastructure, and administrative aspects while Nishtha Jolly JD ’18 – managing attorney of the Pro Bono Project developed and facilitated the volunteer training and oversaw the legal services. “Pro Bono Project strives to fill access-to-justice gaps in Santa Clara County. We feel honored to have partnered with the Law Center and Elevate Community Center.” The event was seamless, thanks to the passion and commitment to the project that both Sharine and Nishtha share. There was much behind the scenes work to ensure success. The Expungement Clinic included over 200 hours of donated service, 19 volunteers, with 16 clients receiving day-of-clinic criminal record expungement assistance. Many more attended the information sessions and are in the process of obtaining the documents needed to move forward with clearing their records. Sharine shared, “This event would not have been possible without the overwhelming support from the Santa Clara Law community. The SCU community truly embodies the school motto of ‘Lawyers Who Lead’ and the value of ‘Service to Others.’ ” So gratifying to have collaborated with Nishtha and Sharine; they are the reason we do what we do! We now have a replicable model and look forward to continued collaboration. Thank you!
Join us in welcoming Law Fellow Alexander Louie to the Law Center team! We are quite pleased to have Alexander Louie bring his background and expertise in investigations and commitment to social justice to the Law Center. The Law Fellowship is made possible through the State Bar of California’s provisional license program and associated grant to fund 2020 law graduates working in qualified legal services projects. The goal of this year long Law Fellowship is to provide and expand legal assistance, education, and outreach for immigrant communities. “I am a Bay Area native who spent part of my childhood in the Southwest. I’ve always had a keen interest in international law and human rights, and devoted most of my studies to these areas in college and graduate school. After a detour in high tech and corporate security, I finally decided to chase my passion and enroll in Santa Clara Law. I was interested in the Law Center because of the chance to work in an important part of immigration law – assisting victims of human trafficking in escaping their situation by gaining residency in the United States. I am really motivated by having the chance to help those who are the most victimized by the worst violators of the law.” In addition to graduating from Santa Clara Law, Alex holds a B.S. from San Jose State University, M.A. from San Francisco State University, and is a member of the Washington State Bar. The Law Center is grateful to the State Bar for funding the Law Fellowship and the resulting expansion of legal services for the community. LAW CENTER ADVISORY BOARD The Law Center is pleased to welcome Santa Clara Law alum Marwa Elzankaly to the Advisory Board:
Marwa Elzankaly is an experienced business lawyer, recently named to The National Law Journal’s “Winning Litigators” and is a 2021 Northern California Super Lawyer. Marwa represents clients ranging from individuals to small businesses to Fortune 500 companies in commercial and general civil disputes. As “Of Counsel” to the firm, Marwa is active on the firm’s technology practice group and works with the firm on high stakes commercial matters. Unique to her practice, Marwa has worked with clients on developing public relations and media strategies and has extensive experience working with local and national media in high profile cases. She has been quoted in local and national publications and interviewed by CNN and Fox News. Marwa successfully prosecuted three appeals on behalf of a Stanford graduate student from Indonesia who found herself inexplicably on the No-Fly List, and obtained a judgment in favor of her client. In a decided victory, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to allow federal trial judges to adjudicate the makeup of the No-Fly List. An en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit eventually also found that the client was entitled to recover the vast majority of her attorney’s fees. Marwa is active in her community and is a frequent guest speaker on legal issues. In just a few short months, the Law Center has already greatly benefited from her contributions. “I’m honored to have joined the advisory board of Santa Clara University School of Law’s Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center. The Law Center is where I first started learning to practice law as a law student, a valuable experience with some of the best lawyers I have worked with.” WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Hear below from an alumni sharing how the Law Center’s clinical program instilled a life-long commitment to service and built skills he uses today in the “Where Are They Now?” series. Join us at the Celebration and hear more stories.
We’re excited to host our annual Celebration fundraising event on Thursday, September 30th at 5:30 p.m. This lively, hour-long virtual night of Celebration will include recognition of special honorees, an update on the Law Center’s work, much inspiration, and more! CELEBRATION HONOREES Community Award Commitment Award Courage Award Email dblakely@scu.edu if you have any questions about the event. You can donate, sponsor or register online now for this free community building virtual Celebration! Interested in volunteering or joining our Advisory Board? Interested in volunteering with the Law Center, funding a fellowship or joining the Advisory Board? Contact Deborah Moss-West or Board Chair Delma Locke to learn more. We would like to hear from you. Give to the Alexander
Community Law Center Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center Phone: (408) 288-7030 | Fax: (408) 288-3581 |
|||||||||
A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WELCOME – ALEXANDER LOUIE JD ’20 – LAW FELLOW 
Marwa Elzankaly JD ’99
Thank you
Your feedback has been received.
