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McGeorge鈥檚 Elder and Health Law Clinic has recovered more than $13 million in assets for clients since 2016
The Community Legal Services building is located on the McGeorge School of Law campus in Sacramento.
After spending most of her adult life as a legal secretary, Jane Gorsi knew the importance of having her legal affairs in order. When she moved to Sacramento and needed a will, she went to the 鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;Elder Law and Health Clinic, where law students Robert 鈥淩J鈥� Smith 鈥�25 and Cody McNearney 鈥�22 helped guide her through the process.
鈥淚 discovered a dedicated student, a wonderful staff, and wonderful attorney supervisors, all of whom worked together to create the best legal experience possible from the client's point of view,鈥� Gorsi said. 鈥淭he clinic students truly want to do everything they can to help maybe one person with one problem, someone who, in the great legal scheme of things, would be completely overlooked in an ordinary law office.鈥�
Since 2016, the clinic鈥檚 advocacy has resulted in more than $13 million in assets for its clients.
She said the students went to great distances to make her legal experience successful and memorable, adding that the students working on her case devoted long hours to support clients who really need legal help but cannot afford it.
鈥淓veryone works together; that is the beauty of the clinic,鈥� Gorsi said. 鈥淭he clinics staffed by law students and supervised by clinical attorneys of law is something special to me.鈥�
According to Gorsi, the result is not just satisfying clients, it is also law students becoming experienced lawyers.
McNearney said that his time in the Elder and Health Law Clinic was invaluable to his development as an attorney. The clinic provided him the tools, opportunities, and mentorship needed to be an advocate for vulnerable populations of the community.
Smith said the faculty at McGeorge taught him effective client interviewing techniques to best approach the issues clients were facing.
鈥淢y time at the Elder and Health Law Clinic was among the most important and transformational experiences for my professional development,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淯nder the mentorship of Professors Melissa Brown and Lacey Mickleburgh, I gained advice and insight into areas of estate planning and elder financial abuse litigation that will significantly improve my abilities as a lawyer once I enter into practice.鈥�
Since 2020, 81 law students have worked in the clinic. Students like Ismat Dajani 鈥�24 who primarily assisted with civil litigation matters learned hands-on experience at the clinic.
"My experience at the Elder and Health Clinic was both a wonderful learning experience putting me in the best position possible to start my career as a lawyer and one of my most fulfilling experiences,鈥� Dajani said. 鈥淭he clinic put me ahead of my peers, both in the courtroom and in the office.鈥�
He said the work he did was 鈥渟oothing to the soul.鈥�
Another former client of the clinic, Lisa Baricevic, served as the power of attorney for both of her parents in a civil lawsuit. Following her mother鈥檚 passing last year, several students worked on their civil case and helped with estate planning. The Elder and Health Law Clinic secured the return of their real property to their possession after the filing of a lawsuit for elder financial abuse.
鈥淲e want to express our sincere gratitude to the school and their incredible team of teaching attorneys and student advocates,鈥� Baricevic said. 鈥淭heir dedication, compassion, and willingness to help, made a real difference.鈥�
Baricevic added that the talented students and experienced mentors gave her not only legal guidance but also a sense of hope and empowerment during a very difficult time. The Baricevic family is among the many clients for whom McGeorge students have provided legal representation to address elder financial abuse.
McGeorge School of Law鈥檚&苍产蝉辫; have been providing free services to people in the Sacramento community since 1964. Four of the clinics operate on campus and are collectively known as Community Legal Services. Under the supervision of faculty, students work with clients in the areas of , , and . Two off-campus clinics give students the opportunity to work in federal courts, prisons and the California State Legislature 鈥� the and the .
