Civil Advocacy Clinic Students Fight For Low-Wage Workers
WCL’s Civil Advocacy Clinic (CAC) continues to advance economic justice for low-income individuals in D.C. and Maryland. CAC student attorneys provide representation in wage claim matters, championing workers who were not paid wages for work performed, including minimum wage and overtime payments. Additionally, student attorneys represent low-income individuals in a variety of other civil matters including obtaining unemployment insurance benefits and maintaining crucial public housing vouchers and supportive services.
In spring 2019, student attorneys working under the supervision of then-Practitioner-in-Residence Sherley Cruz negotiated settlements totaling over $60,000 for low-wage workers in healthcare and hospitality settings and in warehouse distribution centers. While CAC is pleased to obtain such large settlements for workers, our mission is to realize justice for all low-wage workers, regardless of the amount of wages owed.
Our cases in fall 2019 also exemplify our mission: CAC student attorneys are representing workers who are owed wages varying from under $400 to over $6,000. Student attorneys are also engaged in collecting over $40,000 in unpaid judgments due to workers. This critical work allows CAC students to unpack the structural challenges that low-wage workers face in every stage of obtaining wages and justice. CAC’s work helps to fill the justice gap for low-income individuals while building student attorneys’ case development, negotiation, and litigation skills.