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The Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic at LMU Loyola Law School (LLS) is thrilled to announce that Marisa Harris ‘17 has returned to join the faculty as director of the Collateral Consequences of Conviction Justice Project (CCCJP). The program helps its clients reboot their lives by expunging records that may prevent them from obtaining or re-establishing professional licenses, mitigating barriers to employment, housing and more. A distinguished post-conviction attorney, Harris brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to justice and equity.
In her prior role at LLS, Harris was a supervising attorney and adjunct professor, before that a post-graduate fellow with the Juvenile Innocence & Fair Sentencing (JIFS) Clinic, where she trained and mentored law students in the rigorous, client-centered representation of youth impacted by severe sentencing.
Under her supervision, the JIFS Clinic helped secure the release of more than 75 individuals from prison, giving them a second chance at life. Harris’ impact extended beyond the courtroom through her co-leadership of the Independent Forensic Gang Expert College, a groundbreaking initiative that trains formerly gang-involved individuals to serve as defense experts, working to reform how juvenile, criminal, and immigration systems address gang involvement.
Most recently, Harris served with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Freedom Project, where she advocated for clients in resentencing, post-conviction litigation, and parole hearings.
"Marisa brings a passion for social justice, impressive advocacy record, and unwavering commitment to her clients and we are all thrilled to welcome her back to the Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic, " says Elizabeth Bluestein, Executive Director for the Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic.
Harris succeeds Elie Miller, founding director of the CCCJP. The CCCJP was founded in 2017, in partnership with the Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Reentry.