I will never forget what my time at EBCLC taught me about the power of community-centered justice. The pandemic and its aftermath underscored so many institutional failures at the state and federal level. Given these failures, it’s easy to be cynical about achieving justice. Yet, EBCLC was always there for our community, living up to its legacy of standing up in the face of systemic failures to address injustice. It was there advocating for extending pandemic protections to keep people housed. It was there fighting debt collectors preying on our neighbors. It was there providing critical legal services with its women of color-centered advocacy to uplift our community.
I am proud to have worked for the Consumer Justice Clinic (CJC) during my time in law school. Under the leadership of inspiring attorneys and paralegals, we sought community-focused justice for our clients against landlords, credit card companies, debt buyers, and identity thieves. Many of our clients were disadvantaged by the power dynamics at play: well-heeled businesses using their resources to perpetuate a racist debt collection system. At CJC, we focused on rebalancing the scales so that our clients understood their rights and were empowered to exercise them.
I saw firsthand how important our services were in providing peace of mind to clients who felt confused when navigating their cases. Through limited representations and consultations, we were able to assist with traditional advocacy efforts like preparing court documents and negotiating settlements with opposing parties. Equally importantly, though, we were able to educate our clients in ways that empowered the broader community. With resources such as the “Stuff they didn’t teach you in school” series, we encouraged the community to better understand how to access the legal system, helping to rebalance the dynamic between the community and debt collectors in the long run. Instead of being narrowly focused on a particular case, CJC focuses on uplifting the entire community as part of the struggle for justice. I am proud to have helped CJC and EBCLC in fulfilling their commitment to community-focused justice and I look forward to carrying the lessons I learned at EBCLC with me beyond law school.
* Mike Ebeling is an active duty naval officer attending law school under the Law Education Program. Upon graduation, he will serve as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Navy. The views presented here are his own and do not reflect those of the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, or any components of the U.S. government.
Written by Mike Ebeling
University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Class of 2024
East Bay Community Law Center, Consumer Justice Clinic