November 22, 2024

Legal Clinic Leaders Series — Ariannie Rodriguez

Meet the students who work directly with and in the community to provide quality legal representation to underserved individuals through our Legal Clinic Leaders blog series. We're excited to spotlight these all-star advocates and showcase the many different fields of law you can explore through our legal clinics and the wide range of opportunities available at Southwestern to gain practical lawyering skills. We hope their experiences will inspire YOU to join a legal clinic.

Meet 4L Ariannie Rodriguez

• Children's Rights Clinic - Spring and Fall 2024

Why did you decide to participate in a clinic?

I chose to participate in the clinic because I was still discovering which area of law truly resonated with me. I’ve always had a deep passion for working with children, and much of my experience has centered around helping and supporting them. When I saw the opportunity to merge that passion with advocacy through the clinic, it felt like the perfect fit. This experience has been far more rewarding than I imagined.

What skills and knowledge did you learn from your clinic experience?

Through the clinic, I significantly developed my public speaking, advocacy, research, and writing skills. But more importantly, I learned that being a lawyer goes beyond just providing legal advice. It's about truly connecting with clients, listening to their needs, and sometimes offering emotional support during difficult times. This experience has helped me hone my ability to communicate effectively as a legal professional and as a compassionate advocate for my clients.

What did you learn about yourself through your clinic experience?

This clinic has solidified my belief that the legal field is my true career path. I was surprised by how passionately I advocated for students and helped parents navigate the complexities of the special education system, especially when faced with resistance from schools. Initially, I was intimidated by the prospect of speaking to parents and standing up to experienced school officials, unsure if I’d be able to do the job well. But witnessing my positive impact on families—helping them secure the support they need and providing guidance—has been incredibly rewarding.

What helped take you from student to advocate?

Professor Rodriguez-Fee provided invaluable guidance and support, but she also gave us the freedom to be the primary advocate, which allowed me to grow into that role. Taking ownership of a case—making strategic decisions, solving problems, and having direct client interactions—was key in helping me develop as an advocate. In the Advanced Clinic, where Professor Fee trusts us to handle cases, I’ve had the chance to deepen my skills and apply what I learned. With a clearer understanding of IEP procedures and the special education system, I’ve gained more confidence and can now identify issues more efficiently.

What words of advice would you have for future clinic students?

The clinic is a lot of work, but you take away an unforgettable experience. This is an opportunity to challenge yourself and discover the kind of attorney you want to be. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Please share an inspiring anecdote from your clinic.

Mid-semester, my partners and I were assigned an expulsion case that I quickly became deeply invested in. The student we represented wasn't receiving the support he needed from his school—they were essentially criminalizing him. During the expulsion hearing, we faced an aggressive school district attorney who tried to intimidate us and violated several procedural rules. Despite our best efforts, the panel voted to expel him, heavily influenced by the opposing counsel's tactics. We planned to appeal to the Board of Trustees to overturn the decision, but again, the opposing attorney tried to block us. We could have walked away at that point, but I felt a strong sense of responsibility toward this student—it was so clear that the system was unfair to him. Instead of letting things be, we asked Professor Fee to represent him in his appeal hearing over the summer, and we were able to reverse the expulsion and have it completely removed from his record.

Interested in learning more about the legal clinics? Visit our Clinics page here.