Access to Justice Clinic

The Access to Justice Clinic provides legal services to clients with limited incomes in civil matters, including housing, public benefits, family, and education law cases. Under the supervision of Professor Cassie Powell, student attorneys work to advance the rights of people experiencing poverty before local courts and administrative agencies. In the Clinic, students may defend a family against an unlawful eviction, appeal a denial of Medicaid, Social Security, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or represent a parent in a custody matter. Throughout the semester-long course, students will identify barriers people experiencing poverty face in accessing legal services and consider how to incorporate access to justice initiatives in their professional lives.

Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Richmond School of Law, Professor Powell was a legal aid attorney in Virginia for several years, most recently as Managing Attorney of Virginia Legal Aid Society’s Suffolk office.

 Because of its limited capacity and the high need for legal help with housing, family, and public benefits matters, the Clinic generally does not accept applications for help directly from community members. The Clinic receives referrals for new cases from local partner agencies and legal aid organizations. Community members seeking legal help should contact their local legal aid for assistance. Resources for legal assistance can be found on the Resources tab.