The Youth Justice Education Clinic

The Youth Justice Education Clinic (YJEC) is a unique opportunity for students to hone their civil litigation skills while advocating for the necessary educational rights and services of vulnerable children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Through two semesters of clinical experience, each of which includes a 2-unit course and 2-unit clinic, YJEC students gain the skills needed to take on multiple cases, including client interviewing, counseling, and representing clients in applicable proceedings. YJEC also addresses issues beyond special education needs, such as access to Regional Center services under the Lanterman Act, discrimination under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act, and access to educational opportunities for foster, homeless, and probation youth under California and Federal law. YJEC receives cases through referrals from the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy’s Juvenile Justice Clinic and from outside agencies, and all new YJEC students attend a 2-day orientation in either August or January, depending on their semester of enrollment.