50 students sworn in to Tulane Law’s five in-house clinics

Within a month of being sworn in to Tulane Law School’s Domestic Violence Clinic, third-year law student Jessica Greenberg was already representing a client. “My co-counsel and I were one of the first groups in the clinic to have a hearing,” she said. “I cannot think of any better preparation than getting into court and before a judge before graduation.” Greenberg was one of 50 third-year law students to be sworn in to Tulane Law’s five in-house clinics. In addition to domestic violence, clinics cover such areas as civil rights, criminal justice, environmental law and juvenile law. Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, whose resumé includes years of working on behalf of low-income individuals, presided over the ceremony. Under Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XX, students are permited to practice law under supervision of a licensed faculty member upon taking an oath and meeting other requirements. Greenberg, who plans to specialize in public interest law, said she applied to Tulane Law knowing that she wanted to join a clinic in her third year of law school. The Tulane Law clinics were founded in 1979 to provide intensive training for law students and access to the court system for individuals and groups who otherwise would not be able to afford or obtain a lawyer. Clinic alumni have gone on to hold a range of leadership positions in government, the public interest, and the bar. Current Louisiana Bar President, Dona Renegar L’92, is an alumna of the Juvenile Law Clinic.