A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR We have immense gratitude for another excellent academic and client service year for the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center. During this fiscal year, law students working under the supervision of attorneys Join our Annual Celebration on Friday, September 29th; this will be the first in-person gathering in over 3 years. We can’t wait to see you and to Celebrate the privilege of working with the community to advance justice. Be Blessed, Deborah Moss West JD ’94 Consider making a gift to keep our programs strong; we’d be quite grateful. THE CONSUMER LAW PRACTICE IS ON YOUR SIDE The Consumer Law Practice provides free legal services for low-income individuals who have been victimized as consumers and debtors by unfair business practices and fraud. Consumers access services through our community outreach, weekly Consumer Courthouse Clinic at the Santa Clara County Superior Court, or through direct representation. Law students, supervised by the dynamic team of Scott Maurer ’95 (clinical professor) and Reuben Castillo (paralegal), empower individuals facing legal challenges, and for most, achieve amicable resolutions. Nearly every consumer case taken to court by Law Center students have yielded favorable outcomes. Furthermore, students exhibit proficiency or excellence in various critical skills such as interviewing, advising, brief-writing, drafting discovery requests and responses, motion practice, deposition-taking, and negotiation. Here are two recent success stories from our exceptional students: Immigration Consultant Victims Compensation – Sue Bai ’23 and Rachael Gernhart ’23 professionally handled a settlement conference and negotiated a settlement requiring a bond company to pay $80,000 towards a judgment the Law Center had previously obtained for victims of immigration consultant fraud. Sue and Rachael received praise from the Superior Court judge who handled the conference. Bank Account Funds Restored – Sue Bai finalized a favorable settlement in an EFTA (Electronic Funds Transfer Act) case; a complaint was filed in the District Court the prior year. Surprisingly, the large national bank defendant failed to answer. After the bank’s default, a motion for default judgment was filed. While the motion was pending the bank finally appeared and filed a motion to set aside the default. Sue prepared an excellent opposition to that motion that no doubt convinced the bank the default would not be set aside. The bank paid Sue’s client approximately twice his actual damages and paid the Law Center’s attorney’s fees.
“Working at KGACLC helped me gain hands-on litigation experience, but more importantly it provided me the opportunity to help real-world clients, positively impacting their lives (and mine) in the process.” Xue (Sue) Bai, ’23
In addition to bringing peace of mind and economic stability for clients, law students develop a deeper sense of the legal needs of low-income consumers which fosters a social justice lens for future work.
INTRODUCING THE 2023 CINDY AVITIA IMMIGRATION JUSTICE FELLOW Rising 3L Mahlieli Bothi is the 2023 recipient of the Cindy Avitia Immigration Justice Summer Fellowship, established in 2017 through a partnership between the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center and La Raza Lawyers of Santa Clara County Charitable Foundation. Mahlieli will receive a $7500 grant from the Foundation to work at the Law Center this summer. The goal of the Fellowship is to provide and expand legal assistance, education, and outreach for immigrant communities.
The fellowship is named in memory of Cindy Avitia ’06, a long-time member of Santa Clara County La Raza Lawyers Association, graduate of Santa Clara Law, passionate advocate for immigrant rights, and former employee of the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center. The Law Center is grateful to the La Raza Lawyers of Santa Clara County Charitable Foundation for making this grant possible. Contact Deborah Moss-West JD ’94, dmosswest@scu.edu if you’d like to support a summer fellow in our office. SAVE THE DATE – ANNUAL CELEBRATION, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th, 5:30 pm Each year, the Law Center holds an event to Celebrate community, commitment, and courage, while also recognizing those who make our work possible. Please save-the-date and watch your email for details on how we will commemorate another year of teaching, advocacy, and service this fall. YOUR VOLUNTEER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT WILL HELP KGACLC:
Interested in volunteering with the Law Center, funding a fellowship or joining the Advisory Board? Contact Deborah Moss-West or Board Chair Delma Locke to learn more. We would like to hear from you. Give to the Alexander
Community Law Center Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center Phone: (408) 288-7030 | Fax: (408) 288-3581 |