My legal internship with EBCLC’s Education Justice Clinic under the Education Defense & Justice for Youth (EDJY) Program has been deeply impactful. As a Latina and first-generation college graduate, my journey into law was rooted in my desire to serve marginalized communities. Before law school, I worked as a paralegal at nonprofits and as a substitute teacher serving low-income communities of color. While I felt largely disconnected from this purpose during my first year of law school, joining EJC provided me the opportunity to continue challenging the many barriers to education and justice experienced by low-income communities and communities of color. From substantive legal training to hands-on experience in client and policy advocacy, joining EJC equipped me with practical skills and instilled a profound understanding of the systemic challenges facing low-income youth and youth of color within the legal system. Further, the mentorship of EJC attorneys Gloria Yi and Atasi Uppal, both fellow women of color, not only promoted my professional development, but also created a sense of belonging in the legal profession.
To disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, we provided support to youth with special education and expulsion cases. My amazing supervisor Gloria included me in all aspects of our casework, fortifying my legal skills and building my confidence as an advocate. In meetings with clients, she modeled how to build relationships with young people. By bonding and getting to know them, we fostered trust and learned about their specific needs and goals, which guided our advocacy. In meetings with schools, Gloria encouraged me to trust my intuition and participate, building my confidence. By being fully immersed in cases, I developed relationships with clients, deepened my understanding of the systems and challenges that they navigate, and engaged in advocacy to ensure that schools met their needs.
In addition to handling casework, we worked towards changes in law and policy that prioritized the needs of students. I conducted legislative history research, attended coalition meetings, and lobbied in Sacramento for bills focused on educational equity, notably Senate Bill (SB) 274 – Willful Defiance. Co-sponsored by EBCLC, SB 274 was designed to keep students in school by eliminating K-12 school suspensions for the reason of “disruption and defiance,” which have a demonstrated discriminatory impact on Black and Brown students. Though I was nervous, Atasi and Gloria supported me in stepping out of my comfort zone, and through lobbying, I gained invaluable insights. The bravery of adults and youth impacted by the bills in sharing personal experiences and advocating for change inspired me. Through our collective power, lobbying seemed less intimidating, and reform seemed attainable. SB 274 was successfully enacted into law in October 2023.
I am extremely grateful for the lessons and relationships from my time with EDJY. Through hands-on experience, mentorship from dedicated EBCLC staff attorneys, and opportunities for legislative advocacy, I have deepened my understanding of how to use the law as a tool for justice and equity and gained practical skills for effecting meaningful change. I look forward to using what I have learned to continue advocating for racial and economic equality.
Written by Erika Basurto
University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Class of 2024
East Bay Community Law Center, Education Justice Clinic