Clinic Perspective: Jim Sorrentino '84

What did you enjoy about your clinic experience?
My favorite part of the clinic experience was meeting and talking with the ordinary people who came to the clinic seeking to understand their rights and responsibilities so they could pursue their dreams and goals.

Was there a particularly memorable moment from your clinic experience that you'd like to share?
Another clinical student and I became good friends as we represented a man convicted of robbing a post office. He wanted to challenge his conviction on double jeopardy grounds. We went to the Department of Corrections facility in Hagerstown to meet him and discuss his case. As we sat down outside the glass-walled cell in the visiting area, he looked us over skeptically and said, with contempt, "Law students? Huh. Well, how smart are you, anyway?" My friend replied, "Well, we're out here, and you're in there." The client's bearing and expression changed immediately, and he began to answer our questions cooperatively. We lost the appeal, but gained an understanding of the appearance of power that effective counsel could wield.

What was your greatest takeaway from your clinic experience?
The clinical experience prepares the law student for the human side of practice, which is critical to establishing trust and understanding with clients.

How has your clinic experience benefitted you in your career and approach to lawyering?
My clinical experience taught me that my understanding of law, regulation, and policy was only as useful as my ability to explain them to non-lawyers.