Access to Justice Clinic
Access to Justice Clinic student attorneys Tara Lucombe, '25 and Serena Brahaspat, '25.
In the Access to Justice Clinic (A2J), student attorneys work to protect and advance civil rights, equal rights, and reproductive justice, especially for vulnerable and underrepresented communities. Our work includes litigating in federal court, advocating for legislative reform, and engaging in the community. From civil rights litigation to equal rights legislation to reproductive justice and maternal health advocacy, our students represent clients on issues of local, national, and global importance.
Note: This course satisfies four hours of the experiential learning requirement and provides the 50-hours of pro bono service required for admission to the NYS Bar.
Bernadette Gargano
Vice Dean for Experiential Education and Social Justice Initiatives; Director of Clinical Legal Education; Director of Access to Justice
Equal Rights
Students will advocate for legislative changes to provide equal rights to all persons and provide community outreach and education on legal issues.
Name Change Clinic
On December 7, 2024, The Access to Justice Clinic, in partnership with the Bar Association of Erie County, Neighborhood Legal Services, Women's Bar Association of the State of New York Western New York Chapter participated in a Name Change Clinic. This event was sponsored by the Law Office of Lindy Korn PLLC and hosted by BestSelf. This clinic aimed to assist individuals in navigating through the process of having their name and gender markers legally changed. Heather Abraham, the director of the Civil Rights and Transparency Clinic, provided the Legal Guide Changing Names & Gender Markings in Erie County, NY, for use during the event and for participants to use as a resource. Additional work is being done through both the Access to Justice Clinic and the Civil Rights and Transparency Clinic to ensure that LGBTQIA+ rights are protected.
