Emily Bernstein
Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic
The Loyola Genocide Justice Clinic (now the Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic) is proud to nominate Emily Bernstein as Loyola’s 2024 Outstanding Clinic Student.
Emily embodies the fearless, compassionate, client-centered approach the LSJLC stands for. From the moment she joined the LGJC she was unafraid to be vulnerable, and in doing so, empathized so well with the vulnerabilities of her clients—a young woman from Ukraine, the
only survivor of a brutal Russian attack that killed all members of her immediate family, and an elderly Holocaust survivor who reminded Emily of her grandmother. Establishing these human connections helped fuel Emily’s drive to go above and beyond for her clients, conducting multiple client interviews beyond normal clinic work expectations, chasing down every research lead, and using her “spare” time to hone her thoughts in ways that substantially strengthened the arguments. Indeed, her passion for assisting her client led her to sign up for an additional semester in the clinic so she could ensure the legal brief to the European Court of Human Rights was as strong as possible.
Emily’s empathetic approach extended to her clinic colleagues. In class, she was a creative thinker and reliable, supportive presence. Her colleagues praised her dedication, professionalism, positive and friendly demeanor, and tireless work ethic.
It is no surprise that Emily went on to intern in Fall 2023 for the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Department of Justice—the original “Nazi hunters” and the office tasked with investigating and prosecuting human rights violators and international criminals.