Access to Justice

Richmond Law has launched a new Access to Justice Clinic, where the student has become the teacher.

Led by former legal aid attorney Cassie Powell, L’16, the clinic is designed to provide critical legal services to underserved communities while giving law students hands-on experience.

“I envision this as a mini legal aid office within the University, where students can develop real-world litigation skills while helping those in need,” she said.

Powell’s vision for the clinic has been heavily influenced by her own experience as a student participating in the Jeanette Lipman Children’s Defense Clinic led by Professor Julie McConnell and the Carrico Center for Pro Bono Service led by Professor Tara Casey. She also credits Professors Mary Tate and Meredith Harbach with being mentors to her as a rising lawyer.

“When I was a student here, I felt very supported by the faculty,” she said. “I really love being able to be that for the students, just as the faculty, many of whom are still here, were for me.”

In addition to practical skills like client management, negotiation, and courtroom advocacy, the clinic encourages students to grapple with deeper questions around access to justice.

“The clinic is about more than just skills-building,” Powell said. “It’s an opportunity for students to think critically about their professional responsibility to improve the legal system.”

By participating in the clinic, students explore how they can incorporate access to justice into their future careers, whether through pro bono work, legal aid, or other forms of community engagement. In this way, the former student has returned to guide the next generation of advocates.

(Reprinted from the 2024 Dean’s Report.)