USC Gould School of Law Housing Law and Policy Clinic (HLPC) was founded in the Fall of 2022, and since then has served more than 500 individuals through direct tenant legal services, Know Your Housing Rights workshops, direct community assessments and policy advocacy. The clinic has carried out a vision to serve low-income tenants in Los Angeles, primarily south of downtown, working alongside local organizations and local legal aid attorneys, organizers and council office staff members.
Founded by USC Gould Clinical Associate Professor of Law Deepika Sharma, JD Class of 2024 students Kiara Jackson, Havyn Quigley and Lo Wong are the first cohort of students who joined the HLPC at its inception.
“It’s been especially rewarding to see Kiara, Havyn and Lo grow from being students in their first year to growing into leaders in their last year,” Sharma says. “Over the past two years, in addition to witnessing them expertly navigate the complex statutory scheme of tenant protections, I saw each of them gain confidence in expressing their views on strategy and bringing their own voice to their individual cases.”
Quigley credits the clinic with being one of the most memorable parts of her time at USC Gould.
“Having the opportunity to work closely with a professor for two years has been integral to my law school experience. I truly feel like I have a mentor and someone I can come back to talk to even when I leave Gould,” Quigley says. “All the clinic students work as a team on everything that we do, and it has fostered such special relationships. What I will remember most looking back on law school are my experiences working with tenants alongside Professor Sharma, Kiara, and Lo in this clinic!”
Jackson’s interest in housing law stemmed from her experience as a founding educator for an elementary school in Compton, where she observed that students experiencing challenges in their housing were adversely impacted while at school.
“When I came to law school, I was looking for a place where I could learn more about housing, because the root causes of educational inequities and opportunity gaps were so important to me,” Jackson says.
Wong notes that the work of the clinic employs an empowerment model that enables tenants to continue to advocate for themselves in the future.
“We try to help build the community by teaching them the law and providing them with tools and resources they can share with other members in their community,” Wong says.
As they prepare to transition into their legal careers, these three graduating students feel poised to carry forward the clinic’s commitment to public service. Jackson plans to return for a semester as a fellow for the clinic and subsequently go into real estate transactional law, while Wong and Quigley will join corporate firms. While they plan to follow different paths following law school, they are dedicated to prioritizing housing justice in the private sector and through pro bono work and are honored to have paved the way for the future of the clinic.
“I was inspired by the idea of an inaugural clinic where I got the chance to be a part of something brand new that promised me the opportunity to grow with it,” Wong says. “Legacy is a big word, but I believe the work we’ve completed will serve as a solid foundation for the clinic to evolve from here on.”
Previous Article
