Rishad Patel '12 on working at the clinic

I have been working on the Employment Discrimination Project since the beginning of my second year, working with victims of political discrimination. The Clinic supplemented my legal education by giving me real world experience but I found the experience so rewarding due to the extensive interaction and the relationships developed with the clients.

Working at the clinic, I have been able to participate in depositions and negotiations, research and draft motions and briefs and help represent clients in arbitration proceedings. The work is hard and not always glamorous, but is so rewarding. It has prepared me for my legal career better than any other class or activity while I have been in Law School. More importantly, I have been able to see the tangible results of my classmates’ and my efforts.

In the past year, I was able to help one client return to work after being wrongfully suspended and helped another receive a sizeable settlement after she was wrongfully terminated in 2005. These cases – and my work on them – impact the clients in meaningful and lasting ways. The appreciation they have shown me and the relationships I have made with them are not things I will soon forget. My experience in the Clinic has shown me how important developing a relationship with your client can be because being invested and passionate about your client’s cause makes you a more focused and better advocate.

Rishad Patel '12