About the Fellowship
MHJC is a semester-long, in-house clinic in which students represent individuals with mental disabilities in litigation under mental health, civil rights, and administrative laws in addition to engaging in policy advocacy and other non-litigation matters on mental health issues.
Illustrative cases include representation of individual seeking state disability benefits in initial applications, administrative appeal, and judicial review in state court; representation of individuals subject to civil commitment, involuntary mediation, and conservatorship proceedings in probate court; and representation of a local organization seeking policy changes on community-based mental health services. Students also engage in advocacy on topics around evidence-based substance use and mental health policies in the family regulation and prison systems.
The principal supervisor for the position will be Professor Marisol Orihuela.
The current Fellow is Cassie Hazelip.