Meet the 2014 Summer Law Clerks

Each summer, PLC welcomes 8-10 full-time law clerks to our summer internship program. As the 2014 cohort prepares to return to their law schools, we take this opportunity to recognize their contributions to our mission this summer.

Summer Spotlight:

Josie Paz’s summer is a fitting extension of her ongoing efforts to better herself and her family, and to give voice to those who are marginalized. Born in Mexico and growing up in Orange County, Josie saw first hand the issues families face with limited resources. The first in her family to attend and graduate from college, Josie not only put herself through college, but worked as a legal assistant for several firms to help prepare herself for her goal of becoming a lawyer.

After a tough first year of law school, Josie’s very first client interview at a PLC legal clinic reaffirmed everything she had been working toward.

“One of the most valuable experiences I gained as a PLC law clerk was client interaction. The experience sharpened my interviewing skills and issue spotting. The majority of the clients I worked with were subject to sub-standard living conditions, yet were not aware of the legal recourse they had available to them.

In one particular case, I interviewed a client who sought the assistance of PLC after being served with an unlawful detainer complaint. The client was a single mother who lived in an apartment with her four young children. The client recently separated from her husband, who the family relied on for financial support. Unfortunately, the husband stopped providing financial assistance–causing the client to miss her rent payment. The client’s family and friends were kind enough to assist her in collecting money for the missed rent payment, but the landlord refused to accept it.

I soon discovered there were various underlying issues with the case. First, there was an infestation of insects at the home. Although the client had repeatedly reported the issues to the landlord, they were never abated. Second, I discovered the plaintiff, a business entity, was not registered with the California Secretary of State to conduct business and therefore lacked standing to initiate the action.

I assisted in preparing an answer, which raised two affirmative defenses: breach of the warranty of habitability, and lack of standing. I also assisted in preparing discovery requests, and a motion for summary judgment based on the standing issue. After being served with the motion for summary judgment, opposing counsel contacted us and conceded there was an issue with the named plaintiff and decided to dismiss the case. The client has since paid the rent amount owed, and the landlord is currently working on remedying the habitability issues.”

For Josie and the other summer law clerks, these opportunities for client interaction, and training and mentorship by PLC attorneys, ensure continued success in their path toward public interest careers and future pro bono commitments.