A Hands-On Introduction to Legal Advocacy
The Juvenile Justice Clinic (JJC) offered students a unique, hands-on introduction to the juvenile justice system with an orientation day at the Juvenile Division of the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Compton, CA. The JJC, which is part of the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, provides holistic, client-centered advocacy for system-involved youth. It is one of the few live-client clinics in the nation where students regularly represent children in delinquency court, gaining invaluable real-world experience.
Five Loyola Law School students participated in the orientation, led by Clinic Director Roshell Amezcua '14 and Social Worker Elyse Kupfer. The day provided a glimpse into the courtroom dynamics and the roles the students will soon step into as legal advocates for juveniles.
Jessica Williams, a rising 2L, expressed her long-standing passion for criminal justice, with a particular focus on helping at-risk youth. “Since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to go into criminal justice. When I was in undergrad, I realized juveniles were the ones I wanted to help,” Williams said. “I wanted to get more involved and help those who don’t have the opportunities I was privileged to have. Today, I’m looking forward to talking to judges about how they see the treatment of juvenile offenders changing and what improvements they’ve seen or hope to see. I want to take that experience and use it in my approach to this work.”
During the courthouse visit, the students had the opportunity to engage with Judge Melissa Widdifield '87, who emphasized the value of the clinic. “I’m an LLS alum myself, and doing the JJC is probably the best thing you can do. Amezcua and Croomes are some of the best attorneys I’ve worked with, so you’re going to learn a lot.”
Roshell Amezcua also prepared the students for the responsibilities ahead. “You’ll be coming to this courthouse often to represent JJC clients," she said. "Next time you’re here, you’ll be the one standing up to represent a juvenile in court. So be prepared, know your case, and behave at the highest level of professionalism.”
Commissioner Bradford, who grew up in Compton, offered words of encouragement to the aspiring lawyers. “I know this community," she said. "I grew up here, and I’m so glad the clinic exists. It's so great to see so many law students who want to work in the juvenile justice system.”
