HELPFUL HINTS
Include
- Lessons learned
- Impact of the Experiential component
- Next steps
SAMPLE PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION
From Disabilities to Evictions: Making the Connection between Social Work and Law
Ima Goodstudent,’10, Politics and Philosophy
Conference Mentor: Melissa Stimell, LGLS
This past summer, I interned in the Housing Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services, where I worked to stop evictions, secure specialized agreements for disabled clients, and ultimately save the subsidies and housing for all of our clients. Before I began my internship, I thought the cases I handled would mostly involve clients who lived in unimaginable conditions under slum lords. Yet I encountered more than routine housing matters. For example, I worked with clients who had mental and physical disabilities and who were unable to understand the court processes affecting their rights. By creatively solving our clients’ problems before trial became necessary, I realized that our preliminary social work was often more crucial in reaching a desirable outcome for our clients than the typical jury trials portrayed on television. Ultimately, I concluded that people can impact the outcome of a legal case without even necessarily having a law degree.