POVERTY LAW: CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES IN A TIME OF NEED SEMINAR (2) (UCI 250) AND WORKSHOP (2) (UCI255)

Professor Raymond Brescia

Offers students the opportunity to provide civil legal services to needy victims of the World Trade Center Attack. Students work at the Urban Justice Center (UJC), a civil legal services office, under the supervision of UJC attorneys and advocates. The work available for students is varied. Primarily, students provide direct assistance to victims in obtaining cash and other assistance from the governmental entities and private groups dispensing aid. As a second form of advocacy, students have the opportunity to work with the economic victims of the WTC disaster to help them gain access to desperately needed services. Students also have the opportunity to provide technical assistance to community groups concerned about the economic effects of the WTC disaster on low-income communities and the impact that redevelopment efforts will have on such communities. The seminar portion of the course provides an overview of the law and policy relating to the legal advocacy students will be providing. This includes Medicaid, unemployment benefits, and welfare and disability law. In addition, the seminar will cover practical skills including administrative advocacy and interviewing. It also deals with ethical issues arising in the wake of dispensing and receiving aid in the wake of a tragedy. The seminar addresses policy and legislative issues involving the post-disaster reconstruction efforts. Throughout the seminar sessions, students are expected to discuss and analyze how their cases relate to these various issues.