UC Law SF Graduates Earn Certificates in Child Advocacy

Congratulations are in order for three UC Law SF 2016 graduates on their receipt of the Legal Services for Children (LSC) Certificate in Child Advocacy: Olivia Mendoza, Jeanette Acosta, and Grecia Ceja.

The three were honored by LSC Executive Director, Abigail Trillin, who is also an adjunct professor at UC Law SF. “It has been a true pleasure to work with students from UC Law SF,” said Trillin.

The Child Advocacy Certificate program is intended to increase the number of qualified and committed child advocates serving Bay Area organizations. As 3Ls, the students completed the Lawyering for Children and other Vulnerable Populations Practicum with LSC, a client-based experiential course.

In order to receive a Certificate in Child Advocacy, students must complete an internship with LSC, fulfill two other internships in the child advocacy arena as well as take course work in either juvenile or family law.

“It was an honor to receive this certification. Child advocacy is what I truly believe I was born to do,” said Grecia Ceja.

Participants in the Certificate in Child Advocacy receive emotional guidance and resources, a valuable credential upon completion and a stipend of $1000 to help offset the burden of out of pockets costs, like bar examination and bar prep course fees.

“This is a fabulous recognition of students who have made youth advocacy a priority in their studies and futures” said Nancy Stuart, Associate Dean for Experiential Learning at UC Law SF.

Current educational partners of LSC include UC Law SF College of the Law, the Berkeley School of Law Youth and Education Law Society, the Juvenile Public Defender’s Office, the USF Criminal Juvenile Defense Clinic and Child Advocacy Clinic as well as the Stanford Legal Clinic Youth Law Center.

The certificate program is made possible by the generous contributions from the Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation.