Since its inception, the Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic (LSJLC) has transformed LMU Loyola Law School’s commitment to justice into hands-on advocacy and rigorous experiential training. Rooted in our ethos of equity, LSJLC has grown into a network of more than 20 live-client clinics preparing students to advocate with skill, compassion, and purpose.

This year, our students represented clients across Southern California and contributed to legal matters of national and international significance. They advocated in trial and appellate courts, informed high-impact policy efforts, and participated in initiatives ranging from binational immigration advocacy to Supreme Court amicus briefing. Their work spanned courtrooms, classrooms, and cross-border communities, reflecting a clinical model defined by innovation, interdisciplinary practice, and human-centered advocacy. 

As we approach 2026, we remain energized by the depth and impact of our clinical programs and the work ahead.

Elizabeth Bluestein
Executive Director 
Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic 

This year, the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (LIJC) inaugurated the Binational Advocacy Project (BMAP) — a first-of-its-kind clinical model in U.S. legal education developed in partnership with ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara. Through BMAP, students at the two institutions work collaboratively to address migration-related legal issues on both sides of the border, gaining a grounded understanding of the challenges migrants face throughout their journeys.

Students have collaborated on advocacy projects and know-your-rights materials for migrants in Mexico and the U.S., and traveled to Tijuana to provide legal consultations to individuals recently deported and facing complex legal barriers. This practice-based, cross-border experience equips students with a rare perspective on global migration systems and prepares them for the evolving landscape of immigration advocacy.

The Loyola Youth Justice Education Clinic (YJEC) contributed to a coalition report  documenting L.A. County's systemic failure to provide legally mandated education to incarcerated youth. Grounded in its client representation and on-the-ground insights, YJEC helped expose widespread noncompliance to policymakers and the public — strengthening statewide advocacy efforts for educational equity in juvenile facilities. This report underscores LLS' leadership in protecting the rights of justice-involved youth.

In December 2024, students in the Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic (LJAC) co-authored an amicus brief in Republic of Hungary v. Simon, a Supreme Court case involving Holocaust survivors’ claims for property taken during World War II. Guided by faculty mentors, students contributed historical and legal analysis supporting the survivors’ pursuit of justice.

Students and faculty from the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (LIJC) were invited to present before the Mexican Senate’s Committee on Northern Border Affairs, where they discussed U.S. immigration policy and its impact on Mexican nationals living abroad. The opportunity reflects LIJC’s position in binational advocacy and policy dialogue.

The Loyola Project for the Innocent (LPI), in coalition with other California innocence organizations, sponsored two justice reform bills in California signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom: AB 1036, which expands post-conviction discovery access so individuals can obtain exculpatory evidence, and SB 553, which streamlines attorney entry to state prisons by improving clearance procedures. These reforms strengthen the state’s post-conviction system and broaden access to justice for incarcerated people.

This fall, Loyola launched a new Transactional Law Clinic — the school’s first live-client clinic that combines corporate and IP practice. Students may choose between specialized corporate or trademark tracks to represent start-ups across practice areas that mirror real-world legal work. As a USPTO-certified trademark clinic, the trademark track enables students to engage directly with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This expansion broadens LSJLC’s offerings and gives students practical experience serving emerging small businesses.

In October, students in the Juvenile Justice Clinic (JJC) made their first official court appearances — with impressive results. Their research, motions, and arguments helped reduce sentences and reunite young clients with their families. Throughout the process, students applied Loyola’s holistic lawyering model, collaborating with YJEC and the Collateral Consequences of Conviction Justice Project to support clients' legal, educational, and reentry needs.

LJAC students partnered with the Global Accountability Network (GAN) to help build an outreach program designed to address the profound needs of victims of the Syrian civil war. After months of groundwork, students met with survivors of the Assad regime, gaining exposure to international law as it is practiced outside courtrooms and diplomatic settings: human-centered and focused on those most affected. "Even though we all knew this project has real world significance, it’s different hearing that from the people directly affected," said one student. "It brings life into what we’re working on."

Roshell Amezcua (Juvenile Justice Clinic)

Marissa Montes (Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic)

Rajika Shah (Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic)

Joe Trigilio (Loyola Project for the Innocent)

Vivian Wong (Loyola Youth Justice Education Clinic)

"I learned so much about the intricacies of education law and how to advocate for students and families in school discipline proceedings. This experience taught me how to navigate real-life legal issues that directly impact young people."

Erin Guevara, '27

Youth Justice Education Clinic

"Working as a law clerk for the Immigrant Defenders Law Center reaffirmed my commitment to immigrant justice. Seeing how our work directly impacted clients showed me the power of advocacy."

Stephanie Castillo, '24

Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic

"The clinic opened my eyes to how much work there still is to be done in the justice system. Being part of JIFS taught me how to be a better listener and a more thoughtful advocate."

Jordan Velosa, '25

Juvenile Innocence & Fair Sentencing Clinic

This year, LSJLC experts informed statewide and national reporting on immigration, youth justice, government oversight, and post-conviction review — highlighting our role in shaping public understanding of critical justice issues in Los Angeles and beyond.

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