Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020 - 21

FEATURE
in-person classes, so he's casting a wider
net. Offers that include a promise to
follow through remotely look particularly attractive right now, Yarabe says.

Meanwhile, American University Washington College of Law student
Danielle Adams found support through the school's mindfulness law
society. The organization normally held group meditation sessions on
Fridays, and those not only continued virtually but also thrived during
the crisis.

Howard Law has plans for practice
opportunities for its students regardless of whether Washington, D.C., is still
under shutdown. The school's clinics
pivoted to remote operations to ensure
that clients continued to receive
services through the end of the school
year. Students in the Criminal Justice
Clinic this past semester received addiGeorge Washington University
tional weekend training in advance of
Law School student Anne Grae
a telephonic hearing that resulted in
the release of a client from confinement Martin's internship at a family
law firm was delayed by two
at St. Elizabeths Hospital. Students with
the Investor Justice and Education Clinic weeks because of the
also obtained a favorable settlement on pandemic.
behalf of their octogenarian client and
hand delivered (at appropriate social distance) the settlement check.
And although court closures have disrupted many areas of practice, the
law school's Child Welfare Clinic continues to work on behalf of clients,
and its Fair Housing Clinic has vigorously pursued the claims of a client
who was hospitalized with COVID-19.

Adams says both the law school's faculty and the student body worked
to develop and maintain their relationships during distance learning.
"We're fortunate to have a faculty that's very connected and available at
all times. We have teachers who have given out their cellphone numbers
and are available for Zoom meetings at all hours. My group is tightly knit.
We've gotten even closer as a result of the crisis. We've been supporting
each other."

SCRAMBLING FOR PRACTICE EXPERIENCE
Before the pandemic struck, many law students had jobs lined up that
were either pushed back or canceled, but American University law
students found help on a listserve where professors and others shared
new job opportunities. The service predated COVID-19, but it quickly
became the epicenter of efforts to find positions for those whose opportunities evaporated during the shutdown. In Adams's case, she was able
to secure a summer internship with the U.S. AbilityOne Commission's
Office of Inspector General in Arlington, Virginia.
Garrett Tracey finished his second year at Catholic Law this spring.
The pandemic upended his plan for a practice-oriented semester,
including a clinic at the Office of the State's Attorney in Montgomery
County, Maryland, after the office closed during the crisis. Before the
outbreak, Tracey had been able to attend hearings and even participate
in trials. He'd also been taking a trial skills class.
"To Montgomery County's credit, they did their best as it relates to
our trial skills class. We were still able to conduct aspects of the trial and
use trial skills remotely," says Tracey. He still looks forward to in-person
practice, though. "Body language in the courtroom is important. We had
a great experience, but it's very different than asking questions in person,
standing up, and vocally objecting."
Tracey has secured an internship for the fall with the Bronx district
attorney's office, which will be handling court matters virtually. Over
the summer, Tracey was looking to allocate as much time as possible
adjusting to possible changes to the administration of the bar exam.
At Howard University School of Law, Luke Yarabe says the second
semester of his first year was tough right up until classes went remote.
In general, Yarabe says the crisis meant that he had more time to devote
to his studies. In addition to his law school obligations, Yarabe is enlisted
in officer training for the Marine Corps. This summer's training was
canceled and then rescheduled to take place at a later date, and Yarabe
was concerned about a conflict with his law school commitments.
Yarabe had planned a spring break trip to New Orleans to work with the
Orleans Public Defenders, but that program was canceled. He has applied
to a couple of different programs to do some legal work in the coming
semester, but at least one of the offers is contingent on the resumption of

Howard also developed an advanced clinic course so that students who
lost summer jobs could continue to work and assist those in need. The
Fair Housing Clinic and Criminal Justice Clinic, for example, are working
on responses to emergent housing issues and seeking the compassionate release of detainees.
Externship students continue to assist remotely on a variety of important,
often COVID-19-related issues. The school's externship team has worked
to ensure that students receive assignments and have the guidance and
supervision necessary for an enriching and educational experience.
At George Washington University Law School, Anne Grae Martin
eased into her virtual classes, especially after textbook companies
made their books available online. On July 27, the law school announced
that all instruction will be delivered remotely for the duration of the fall
semester.
Martin's summer internship at a family law firm was delayed by two
weeks but was still possible on a remote basis. "I feel really lucky. I still
hadn't found a job when we went remote. That was about two weeks
of stress, but I finally got something."
Martin intends to practice in family law or trust and estate planning
post-graduation. She says the crisis has helped solidify her notion of
the importance of these practice areas. "Domestic violence and child
custody are still live issues," she says. "The situation has emphasized how
important our roles are. ... People in this field do it because they love
it and want to help people."

Reach D.C. Bar staff writer Jeremy W. Conrad, Esq. at JConrad@dcbar.org.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

WASHINGTON LAWYER

Patrick Martin

Classes were scheduled to resume at George Mason on August 24
with a mix of in-person and expanded online instruction. This hybrid
approach was intended to allow for social distancing while making alternatives available for those who are not ready to return to campus.

Washington Lawyer - September/October 2020

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