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<\/p>\nIn a milestone moment for the University of La Verne\u2019s College of Law and Public Service, law students Brent Balancio and Erika Zuniga recently argued before the California Court of Appeal\u2014an opportunity rarely granted, even to seasoned attorneys.<\/p>\n
This prestigious opportunity underscores not only their dedication but also the rigorous legal training and opportunities offered by the college\u2019s San Bernardino County Misdemeanor Appellate Clinic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a monumental achievement for CLPS, our clinic, and our students,\u201d said Kevin Marshall, dean of the college. \u201cI know of no other California Bar (CalBar) school that offers these opportunities, and this type of clinical training puts CLPS on par with many American Bar Association (ABA) programs. This is about our students, faculty, and staff playing a significant and responsible role in our constitutional democratic republic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Founded in 2019, the university\u2019s clinic provides hands-on appellate law experience, giving students the chance to represent indigent defendants and argue real cases in court. It was through this clinic that Balancio and Zuniga earned their opportunity to argue before the Riverside appellate court.<\/p>\n
The clinic provides CLPS students the opportunity to litigate real cases involving real clients. They analyze trial transcripts, identify legal issues, draft appellate briefs, and argue before local superior court appellate panels. Through their work, students don\u2019t just represent clients \u2014they help shape legal precedent, reinforcing the clinic\u2019s role in advancing justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing involved in this clinic has opened my eyes to how vital appellate advocacy is to the legal system,\u201d Zuniga said. \u201cWe\u2019re not just advocating for one client\u2014we\u2019re also contributing to the broader legal and social framework.\u201d<\/p>\n
Balancio and Zuniga\u2019s oral argument was the culmination of years of work by at least half a dozen students each semester under the guidance of Professors Courtney Redman, Michele Assael-Shafia, and Arya Shamuilian. The clinic operates like an attorney\u2019s office, providing students with a unique \u201chands-on\u201d experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost attorneys never argue before the Court of Appeal,\u201d said Co-Director Assael-Shafia. \u201cThe court was very complimentary and told them they were \u2018bar card ready.”<\/p>\n
These opportunities are challenging, but transformative, say students. Balancio, a third-year law student aspiring to become a criminal defense attorney, said the team contended with a negative tentative opinion in the recent case.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe court made it clear we shouldn\u2019t simply repeat our briefs, so we had to dig deeper,” he shared. “We immersed ourselves in as many cases as possible, uncovering issues that hadn\u2019t been fully addressed. It felt like solving a puzzle, which I couldn\u2019t have solved without the analysis of my peers.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Zuniga, a fourth-year student set to graduate in May, said condensing complex legal issues into a concise, impactful argument and presenting within a limited time was a struggle. Practicing with guest judges and fellow clinic members provided fresh perspectives that helped them shape the best possible argument, she said. <\/span><\/p>\n “In class, you learn theory, but the appellate clinic teaches you how law is interpreted in real cases,” Balancio said. “This experience strengthened my confidence and oratorical skills. I\u2019m just thankful that my work with the clinic has provided such a solid foundation, and I\u2019m excited that prospective <\/span>employer<\/span>s are showing interest in my potential.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Building on the foundation laid current and previous clinic students, the next step is petitioning the California Supreme Court for further review of the case.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the Supreme Court accepting only three to five percent of petitions, this is a major step,” Assael-Shafia said. “It speaks volumes about our students\u2019 advocacy skills and the support they\u2019ve received from CLPS and Dean Marshall.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Law students gain rare appellate court experience, showcasing rigorous training and dedication.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":14944,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1549],"tags":[9951,9818,8450],"class_list":["post-14942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-events","tag-appellate-clinic","tag-clps","tag-college-of-law-and-public-service","ulv_author-university-of-la-verne"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n