Catholic Law students Julie Reed (2L) and Kali Fields (2L) had impressive clinic success during the spring 2024 semester. Through their hard work and advocacy, they were able to obtain custody and the necessary Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) findings for their client.

Reed and Fields are certified student attorneys at Catholic Law’s Families and the Law Clinic (FALC). Supervised by Professor Catherine Klein, Director of Columbus Community Legal Services (CCLS), these students recently received favorable rulings on all issues in their respective clients’ custody and SIJS cases in the Superior Court.

As one of the pro-bono law firms housed in CCLS, the home of clinical education at Catholic Law, FALC helps students develop their lawyering skills and professional values through actual experience representing clients from the local community. Students take on cases of domestic violence, family law, and immigration law. Students have full responsibility for every aspect of their case—from interviewing clients and witnesses, drafting legal memoranda and pleadings, preparing and arguing motions, to conducting trials before the Superior Court and other local courts.

“Working in FALC this semester has been an amazing experience and my favorite opportunity in my legal career so far,” Fields noted. “Clinic has helped me strengthen my critical thinking and communication skills. I loved working with clients to help share their story and navigate difficult situations. To be able to appear in front of a judge prior to graduating law school feels like an amazing accomplishment and unique opportunity. I cannot wait to continue to develop my legal skills and prioritize pro bono work throughout my career. I am so grateful for the support I received throughout the semester and the opportunity to work with amazing supervisors and peers.”

SIJS proceedings allow family members in the United States to obtain custody over a juvenile who has been abandoned or abused by family in their home country, and provides a path to status in the United States. As a result of Fields and Reed’s excellent advocacy, the Superior Court granted their client custody of her child.

“What I personally found the most rewarding about this whole experience was getting to see just how much our legal aid can help a local family,” Reed added. “I feel incredibly lucky to have gotten to know our clients and feel even more lucky to have gotten to play a part in obtaining this decision for them and their family.”

“I am so grateful to our student attorneys for all their hard work and support. I know they will be amazing lawyers,” their client commented. “I was particularly struck by their hard work, dedication and focus on our case.”

“Being able to work closely with amazing students like Kali and Julie makes my job so rewarding,” Klein noted. “Their empathy and compassion for their clients and their dedication to their clinical work is truly inspiring. Seeing them advocating in court so effectively, followed by the huge smiles on our client and her child’s faces when the judge ruled in their favor, was incredible. I can’t wait to see what Kali and Julie accomplish in their future careers.”