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Jason Barraza
March 2005
Jason
Barraza is a second year law student who
has been volunteering with
the VLP Advocates
since his first
semester of law school because
he “hoped that the
minimal legal knowledge that
[he] had might help someone during a
difficult
time in his or her life.” He first
participated in
the Child Support Clinic. Despite the
fast-paced
nature of the Clinic, Jason was a standout
volunteer who
consistently demonstrated
professional skill in his work and
sensitivity
to his clients.
Jason received his
undergraduate degree in biological sciences from the
University of
Southern California. After graduation, he spent several months in
Malaga, Spain in a Spanish language immersion program. When he
returned
from Spain, Jason became actively involved in several
political causes, including
the Arizona Democratic Party’s Get Out
The Vote program in Pima County and
the DuVal for Congress campaign
in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Now,
despite a rigorous academic schedule and year-round employment,
Jason
has continued his community activism at the College of Law.
This semester,
Jason was one of three students selected to launch
the Guardianship Project, a
pilot program that facilitates
children’s access to safe shelter, education, and
necessary medical
care. Moreover, in addition to his participation with the VLP
Advocates, Jason holds office on the College of Law’s Student Bar
Association
and played an instrumental role at last summer’s
Democratic National
Convention in Boston. About his role in the VLP,
Jason notes:
The
Volunteer Lawyers Program has proven to be one of the
most rewarding
aspects of my legal education. I have always
believed that assisting
our communities is a duty we owe to
society. The VLP allows me to
practice this ideal and gain
valuable experience along the way.
While not yet practicing
attorneys, the VLP provides the opportunity
to bring the
education that law students possess and immediately
apply that
knowledge in a legal setting. Whether it is aiding people
arrange
paperwork for filing, helping individuals navigate a complex
legal
situation, or simply providing reassurance that an issue will
be
rectified, everyday at the VLP, law students get to expand their
legal knowledge and help people solve their legal problems.
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Past Outstanding Volunteer
Student Awards |
