Trinity Law School provides five unique legal clinics offering pro bono legal services to the community while giving students invaluable practical experience. Juris Doctor students are eligible to participate in the legal clinics upon completion or concurrent enrollment of 30 units. To review more information and the Clinic Application, click here. If you are seeking legal help for yourself or a loved one, click here for a list of resources in the southern California area.
This clinic is located on the grounds of the Orange County Rescue Mission, a transitional living facility for homeless individuals and families. Trinity students provide pro bono services to help residents with a variety of legal issues so that they can start their new life with a clean slate.
The Clinic’s mission at Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM) is to serve the legal needs of the residents at the Village of Hope and the homeless population of the greater Orange County area.
Former President of Orange County Rescue Mission
“Trinity Law School is a wonderful example of an educational institution that is not just handing out degrees, but calling their students to provide a helping hand to the least, the last, and the lost of our community.”
Trinity’s first legal clinic, Trinity Law Clinic at OCRM, started in the Summer of 2009 and is located on the campus of the Village of Hope in Tustin. Trinity Law School joins in the purpose of the Orange County Rescue Mission “to minister the love of Jesus Christ to the Least, the Last, and the Lost” by providing free legal services to the residents of the Mission’s multiple programs around Southern California. Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, law students interview clients, assess their legal needs and work closely with the supervising attorney to provide answers to difficult legal issues faced by the indigent and underserved population – including family law, criminal law, housing and debt issues.
Furthering Trinity’s partnership with the Orange County Rescue Mission, the Mobile Legal Clinic opened its doors during the Spring 2012 semester. This “law office on wheels” runs in conjunction with other mobile services coordinated by the Mission: the Mobile Medical Clinic and the Chili Van. Each week, law students, under the direction of a supervising attorney, work with low-income and homeless residents of Orange County. Students interview clients, provide pertinent information, help complete court or administration paperwork, assist in contacting government agencies and preparing for court hearings. Through this ministry, TLS students are able to provide pro-bono legal services to members of society who might not otherwise have access to legal assistance.
Under the supervision of a Trinity Law School professor and supervising attorney, the Trinity Immigration Clinic (TIC) works with non-profit, non-governmental organizations to provide legal services in areas such as asylum, Temporary Protected Status, Adjustment of Status, removal, and other immigration-related issues. Students receive instruction on representation, case analysis, interviewing, and case preparation. This clinic is entirely virtual, so it is a great opportunity for our students outside of California to participate in a clinic while addressing immigration issues for under-served populations.
The Trinity Religious Liberty Clinic (TRLC) is a partnership with the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), and operates on the campus of Trinity Law School in Santa Ana. PJI is a non-profit organization providing pro bono legal services in defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties. This writing-intensive clinic is designed to give students the unique opportunity to hone legal writing skills while under the supervision of an attorney specializing in constitutional law. Students will be exposed to writing various trial and appellate level documents including complaints and amicus briefs for current cases. Students’ research and writing will directly contribute to important religious freedom matters.
Our mission is to defend (without charge) the religious freedoms, parental rights, and other civil liberties of people who cannot defend themselves.
Senior Counsel for Pacific Justice Institute & Trinity Law School professor
One of the most common categories of cases PJI handles involves street preachers who are being harassed by local governments, sometimes even being arrested, notwithstanding First Amendment speech rights. In this case, PJI is representing a man who was given a ticket for open-air preaching.
Professor Fired For His Faith
Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) secured a legal victory for Eric Thompson, a sociology professor at Moreno Valley College, who was fired for his discussions of “dangerous” conservative worldviews in his college classroom. PJI represented the professor in depositions, administrative hearings, and a multi-day arbitration conducted like a trial. The arbitrator, who found many of the claims against the tenured professor were unfounded, ruled in Thompson’s favor.
The Trinity Mediation Clinic (TMC) operates with the Orange County Superior Court and Waymakers Orange County. TMC is designed to give students hands-on experience providing mediation services to the disputants and operates under the direction of Ryul Kim, a professor, mediator and licensed attorney. This clinic equips students who may be interested in entering the field of alternative dispute resolution or those who would like to integrate peacemaking principles into their own legal practice.
