- By Kristen Natividad
When USC Law's Domestic Violence Clinic closed in the summer of 2005, six third-year students took action and founded the Domestic Violence Committee to ensure the continuation of a student network focusing on domestic violence issues.
Emily Austin was one of them.
"We started the committee to try to bring opportunities back to the law student body in light of the clinic's closure," said Austin, who co-founded the committee with classmates Carrie Harp, Debbie Ghodsian, Jeanine Percival, Jesse Leff and Rosi Yoo.
The committee, which in the past year has grown to about 16 members, hopes to offer two types of clinical experiences, Austin said. First, members want to facilitate externships in which students work at an agency on domestic violence issues. Second, they want to start a pro bono network for USC Law alumni, which would offer opportunities for current students to work with graduates in order to provide domestic violence legal services. The committee also is working to bring back some form of clinical work in domestic violence to the law school.
Thus far, the committee has worked closely with the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women (LACAAW), a Pasadena-based organization focused on sexual abuse and domestic violence issues. It also provides social work services, counseling and legal self-help.
"The organization helps survivors of domestic violence file their own cases and represent themselves in hearings to get protective orders and custody," Austin said. "We plan to use their infrastructure to provide volunteers who can help clients negotiate the legal system."
Five committee members who attended training with LACAAW in January were treated to a full-day seminar that included discussion of domestic violence issues and their legal implications.
"The students got the same MCLE training lawyers are getting, for free," Austin noted.
This year, the committee hopes to host guest speakers on domestic violence issues. And members are in talks with students from the USC School of Social Work about potential interdisciplinary programs, Austin said.
The committee's next event is a panel on domestic violence and sexual assault, co-sponsored with PILF and RLAWS. It will take place April 13 at 5:30 p.m. at USC Law. For more information,
e-mail [email protected].
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