Thomas Jefferson School of Law Students Recognized by Legal Aid Society of San Diego
June 18, 2019
On May 31, 2019, the efforts of TJSL law students were recognized at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD) Pro Bono Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held at the Westin Gaslamp Hotel. The awards portion of the ceremony began with the Outstanding Service Awards to organizations and Interim Linda Keller accepted on behalf of TJSL. After that, the students were recognized for their volunteer work. Receiving the Wiley W. Manuel Award for donating more than 50 hours of legal services to Legal Aid over the prior year were Fernando Arroyo, Thea Jaucian, Stacey Macias, and Jovilee-Mae Cruz. In addition to receiving the Manuel Award, the following students were also recognized with Outstanding Service Awards – Najum Anwar, Philip Cavello, Nancy Juarez, Angelino Lim, and Julie Whitney. Whitney said that “I came to law school to contribute to society and help those in need. Legal Aid was a perfect vehicle to help me fulfill that mission!”
Current LASSD Development Director (and former supervising attorney) Lorena Slomanson (’03) praised the TJSL students by saying that the “Legal Aid Society of San Diego continues to enjoy a longtime partnership with Thomas Jefferson School of Law. This has made a huge impact on the amount of San Diegans our organization can assist with housing, healthcare, benefits, immigration, consumer law, and our other practice areas. I personally enjoyed supervising hundreds of TJSL students over the years, some of whom I can now call colleagues at Legal Aid! The quality of volunteers coming from TJSL was always impressive. Their skill set very diverse, as a result of the unique education they received at TJSL, an institution which support students in public interest endeavors and values the importance of pro bono work. Thank you TJSL, for improving the lives of San Diegans, one volunteer at a time.” The students also met Karen Barragan (’15), who was recently hired as the new supervising attorney of LASSD’s Domestic Violence Clinic in the Chula Vista Courthouse. Photos: Big group (Karen Barragan, Isabel Eustaquio, Thea Jaucian, Fernando Arroyo, Angelino Lim, Julie Whitney, Interim Dean Linda Keller, Lorena Slomanson, Jeff Chinn); Photo 2 (Jeff Chinn, Director of Career Services, Interim Dean Linda Keller, Christine Pangan, LASSD staff attorney and TJSL Adjunct Professor); Photo 3 (Gregory Knoll, Executive Director, LASSD, Phillip Cavello, Linda Lane, LASSD Board President); Photo 4 (with Julie Whitney).