Inaugural Student Attorney Swearing-In Ceremony
On September 6, 2018, the 2018-2019 Clinical Program student attorneys gathered to be sworn in by D.C. Superior Court Judge Tanya Jones Bosier (WCL '00).
The program began with a thought exercise led by Prof. Sherley Cruz and Prof. Katie Ladewski. Using a creative online interface, students texted the words that came to mind when asked about "Disruptive Lawyering," the program's theme. The students' responses formed a large onscreen "word cloud" that continued to grow as students considered how lawyers must frequently disrupt the status quo to obtain justice for their clients, particularly in cases involving systemic injustice.
Judge Jones Bosier, who was a student in the Domestic Violence Clinic while at AUWCL, then addressed the students, recalling fondly her time as a Clinic student. Judge Jones Bosier encouraged Clinic students to carry and use the wisdom and skills learned in Clinic throughout their careers and to continue to find ways to increase access to justice for disadvantaged and under-represented people and communities. At the end of the ceremony, Judge Jones Bosier administered an oath to the students in which they promised to abide by the rules of professional responsibility and to carry out their duties "with all due creativity, professionalism, and critical reflection."