As I reflect on my time at EBCLC’s Clean Slate Clinic, I am reminded by how much it has informed my own personal and professional growth as a law student and future lawyer. From the outset, Clean Slate provided me with a diverse array of experiential learning opportunities. I worked primarily in the Record Remedies team where I directly represented clients in record relief proceedings in Alameda County Superior Court. Representing clients in court was an eye-opening experience. It wasn’t just about navigating the legal intricacies of state court proceedings or learning how to hone my oral argument skills, but it was also about persuasively communicating the uniqueness of each of my client’s stories and shining a light on the importance that Clean Slate relief would bring to their and the lives of their families and communities. Outside of direct services, I also had the chance to exercise so many other skills like presenting in Know Your Rights workshops, serving as a legal observer at a homeless encampment sweep, and conducting legal research on state legislative initiatives. Anyone at EBCLC will attest to how humbling and important it is for lawyers to understand the limits of the legal system as a tool to redress societal harm. And it was inspiring to see how committed EBCLC attorneys were to practicing the ideals of client-centered lawyering and situating our clients’ legal issues within the broader context of their identities and lived experiences. EBCLC’s work is inherently intersectional and Clean Slate Clinic is no exception. For many of my clients, their stories and legal issues fall in the intersection of criminal law and immigration law. At EBCLC, I routinely worked across teams and clinics to ensure our clients crimmigration cases were handled in a way that protected their immigration status while also ensuring they received the full benefits of record relief.
My supervisor Rebecca epitomized the ethos of clinical legal pedagogy and client-centered lawyering. She provided guidance and mentorship at every juncture of my clinical experience, making sure that I was supported throughout the process. I was constantly challenged to think independently, critically, and creatively about the legal issues our clients faced. She demonstrated humility and care towards each of our clients and always remembered to make sure they were in control of their narratives and their cases.
Finally, EBCLC was special to me because it provided respite from the usual experience of law school, where it is easy for one to feel removed from the wider community we are situated within. This is especially acute in the Bay Area where there is extreme wealth alongside an ongoing housing crisis and massive displacement. I am so grateful for my time at EBCLC and Clean Slate — for what it has taught me and how it has anchored me throughout law school.
Written by Xandra Xioa
University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Class of 2024
East Bay Community Law Center, Clean Slate Clinic