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| Expansion and Empowerment: New Clinics, Client Victories, and Celebrations of Excellence at GW Law
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The George Washington University Law School Clinical Program continues to expand in Spring 2025, while remaining known for its excellent client service and student engagement. All client names throughout this newsletter have been changed to respect client confidentiality.
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GW's Clinical Program by the Numbers
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Vaccine Injury Litigation Clinic Wins $1,000,000 in Client Compensation and Attorneys’ Fees
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Student-attorneys pose with their practice certifications. Left to Right: Neha Kanagarla, Spencer Sandusky, Meghan Bonnist, David Wurtele, Leena Tahmassian-Pacosian, Brian Robusto and Kaitlyn Danlinhton. Not pictured Josephine Gray also received her certification from the Court but was not present for the photo.
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The Vaccine Injury Litigation Clinic (VILC), directed by Professor Renée Gentry, has represented 20 clients at various stages within the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program in the last year alone. The Clinic’s work has resulted in nearly $1,000,000 in compensation for its clients and in attorneys’ fees, enhancing the Clinic’s resources and its capacity to assist future clients. Through courtroom victories, policy work, and participation in national conferences, the Clinic continues to have a tremendous impact.
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Enhancing Access to Justice: New Clinics Launching at GW Law in 2025
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We are thrilled to announce the launch of three new clinical offerings starting in Spring 2025. The new clinics are divisions of the Access to Justice Clinic. The Access to Justice clinical model allows GW Law to leverage the expertise of our faculty and deans across the Law School, provides flexibility to be responsive to emerging community needs and student interests, and increases seats in our over-enrolled Program.
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New Administrative Law, Issues, and Appeals Clinic Training the Next Generation of Appellate Litigators
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The GW Law Clinical Program launched the Administrative Law Issues and Appeals (ALIA) Clinic under the direction of Dean Aram Gavoor in Fall 2024. ALIA Clinic student-attorneys work on cases ranging from federal administrative and constitutional law issues to emerging fields like AI and cybersecurity. These cases bring students before the U.S. Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, and federal agencies, engaging with complex legal challenges. The Clinic's first project, an amicus brief for a First Circuit human rights case, exemplifies its wide-ranging approach to engaging with complex administrative law issues and training students in legal drafting, coalition building, and appellate practice. The Clinic’s additional projects this inaugural semester address Transportation Security Administration cybersecurity rules, Federal Communications Commission regulatory petitions, and D.C. parolee rights.
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Advocating for Healthier Futures: Environmental Justice Division’s Impactful Submission to HUD on Lead Hazards
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| Student-attorneys pose in celebration of their completed comment. Left to Right: Sidney Lee, Emma Stinson, Jaylah Richie, and Anna Aguilar.
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The Health Equity and Policy Advocacy Clinic, Environmental Division, directed by Professor Emily Benfer, recently celebrated a milestone achievement, thanks to the dedicated work of our Environmental Justice (EJ) student team. This Fall, EJ student-attorneys submitted a powerful comment to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Notice of Comment. Drafted on behalf of 20 organizations, associations, and individuals, this document is a persuasive submission that uses principles of environmental justice, housing equity, and health standards to advocate for stronger protections for children from lead hazards.
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Health Rights Law Clinic Restores Essential Home Health Aid for D.C. Resident
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Health Rights Law Clinic student-attorneys pictured: Akshara Anirjita (top left), Clare Choi (top right), Kaitlin Lee (bottom left), and Hanadi Chidiac (bottom right).
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The Health Rights Law Clinic, directed by Professor Drake Hagner, recently won an important victory for their client who is an elderly D.C. resident with physical and cognitive impairments. The student-attorneys' diligence paid off and D.C. Medicaid granted full restoration of his home health aide services after reviewing their brief and new evidence.
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From Custody to Freedom: Student-Attorneys’ Client Defense Results in Triumph
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Student-attorneys in the Criminal Defense and Justice Clinic, directed by Professor Lula Hagos with the support of Professor Peter Calloway helped their client, Mr. Martinez, free himself from the criminal legal system entirely. Mr. Martinez, who struggles with homelessness and mental health issues, came to the Clinic in custody with two misdemeanor charges while on probation.
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A Symposium and Award Honoring the Life and Legacy of Professor Susan R. Jones
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On Friday, November 15, 2024, The George Washington University Law School hosted a symposium titled "Honoring the Legacy of Professor Susan R. Jones: Investing in Social Enterprises, Communities, and in the Next Generation of Social Impact Lawyers." Scholars, advocates, and former students gathered to celebrate the profound impact Professor Jones had on community economic development, social justice, and legal education. The Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts and the American Bar Association co-sponsored the program. The event also marked the launch of the Susan Jones Memorial Entrepreneur and Community Empowerment Award. This award, to be presented at graduation, honors a student exemplifying Professor Jones’ values of community empowerment, financial literacy, and social entrepreneurism. The award includes a monetary contribution to support the recipient as they begin their career in a field indelibly shaped by Professor Jones.
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2024-2025 Ira Jaffe Award Presented to Rachel Khoury (Class of 2025)
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This fall, thanks to the generosity of GW alum Ira Jaffe (JD ‘77) and his family, the Clinical Program distributed its inaugural Ira Jaffe Award, intended to honor students dedicated to workers’ rights, labor law, or mediation. This prestigious award supports Clinic students during their Clinic semester and seeks to replace the income a student might have earned had they taken a job rather than enrolling in a Clinic, which provides them with a deep education and experience.
Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Rachel Khoury (Class of 2025)! Much of her work experience has been centered around Labor and Employment work. Prior to law school, she co-founded Food Justice at the University of Florida, a student and worker-led coalition addressing intersectional issues of labor, environment, and racial justice that united diverse stakeholders from local Black farmers, immigrant farm workers, supply chain workers, campus workers, and formerly incarcerated individuals. She has worked with Farmworker Justice, an organization dedicated to empowering migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Rachel also recently accepted a summer position at Mooney, Green, Saindon, Murphy & Welch, P.C., a union-side labor firm in Washington D.C.
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Professor Emily Benfer
Associate Professor of Law; Director, Health Equity Policy & Advocacy Clinic
In November 2024, Professor Emily Benfer spoke about eviction policy, renter outcomes, and health equity during the convening on "The State of Household Financial Stability in the United States" at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In October 2024, Governing quoted Professor Benfer on the impact of the rising cost of living for millions of Americans. In August 2024, Professor Benfer told USA Today that crime-free rental ordinances harm communities of color, domestic violence survivors, and low-income populations. In July 2024, Professor Benfer authored a peer-reviewed article "Housing is Health: Prioritizing Health Justice and Equity in the U.S. Eviction System” which appeared in the Yale Journal of Health, Policy, Law, and Ethics. The same month, her research was discussed in GW Today.
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Professor Alberto Benítez
Professor of Law; Director, Immigration Clinic
In October 2024, Professor Alberto Benítez spoke on a panel sponsored by the Immigration Law Association about the 2024 Presidential Election and the potential impacts on immigration law. Professor Benitez was once again named to the Best Lawyers list for Washington D.C. Additionally, in May 2024, the American Immigration Lawyers Association presented him with the 2024 Elmer Fried Excellence in Teaching Award.
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Professor Arturo Carrillo
Professor of Law; Director, Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic
In November 2024, Professor Arturo Carrillo spoke on a panel, "The Lawsuit for Survival" about the gun violence crisis in the United States. In May 2024, Professor Carrillo co-authored a new briefing paper, "Exploring Tech Company Responsibility in Armed Conflict." The paper summarizes discussions and key takeaways from a three-part learning series organized in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and the Civil and Human Rights Clinic.
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Professor Renée Gentry
Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in Law; Director, Vaccine Injury Litigation Clinic
In November 2024, Professor Renée Gentry was quoted extensively in Washingtonian Magazine about covid vaccine injuries. In October, Professor Gentry spoke at the 2024 Annual Conference of the Vaccine Injured Petitioners Bar Association, a national event connecting lawyers from across the country,
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Dean Laurie Kohn
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Development, Graduate Programs, and Online Learning, Jacob Burns Foundation Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs; Associate Professor of Law; Director, Family Justice Litigation Clinic; Director, Access to Justice Clinic
In November 2024, Dean Laurie Kohn presented at the Midwest Clinical Conference, "First Class: What’s Love Got To Do With It? Finding Inspiration Amidst the Logistics." In July 2024, Dean Kohn presented at the SEALS Conference on innovations in family law pedagogy. This year, Dean Kohn was appointed as Senior Associate Dean of Academic Development, Graduate, and Online Education. In this new role, Dean Kohn joins Senior Associate Deans Elizabeth Ewert and Steve Schooner as part of Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew’s senior leadership team. Dean Kohn will remain the Jacob Burns Foundation Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs.
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Professor Joan Meier
National Family Violence Law Center Professor of Clinical Law; Director, National Family Violence Law Center
In September 2024, WJLA-ABC7 quoted Professor Joan Meier on straightforward arguments for custody battles, and the likelihood of drawn out arguments with “wrenches thrown in the plan.” August 2024, Professor Meier's response to United States v. Rahimi: Resisting the “Suicide Pact” for Now was published in George Washington University Law Review. In June 2024, Professor Meier presented at the AFCC annual conference in Boston on "The Truth About Kayden's Law," the federal provision of the Violence Against Women Act which incentivizes states to adopt more protective provisions in their custody statutes in return for federal dollars to fund family court trainings on abuse.
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Professor Caroline Rogus
Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in Law; Director, Access to Justice Clinic, Workers' Rights Division
Professor Caroline Rogus was appointed to a four-year term with the Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services of the D.C. Circuit Judicial Conference, on which she works with other members to assess how the legal community is responding to the unmet legal needs of D.C. area residents.
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Professor Robin Runge
Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in Law; Director, Access to Justice Clinic, Workers' Rights Division
In December 2024, Professor Robin Runge participated in a conversation hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies titled "Defending the Caregivers: The Care Economy and Gender-Based Violence." The panel discussion was sponsored by the International Labour Organisation office for the United States and Canada and is available here.
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Professor Paulina Vera
Professorial Lecturer in Law, Immigration Clinic
In October 2024, Professor Paulina Vera spoke on a panel sponsored by the Immigration Law Association about the 2024 Presidential Election, and the potential impacts on immigration law.
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Professor Anne Weismann
Professorial Lecturer in Law, Public Justice Advocacy Clinic
In November 2024, Professor Anne Weismann presented on "The Future of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)." The panel discussed the problems and solutions that technology poses and shared perspectives as to what the future holds for accessing documents under the FOIA.
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