Press Releases

02/27/2007

"SWIFT JUSTICE": SCU Law Student Seeks Olympic Trials Marathon and Support for the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center (KGACLC).

Elite distance runner and Santa Clara University Law School student, J.T. Service, is running the 2007 Honda Los Angeles Marathon in hopes of fulfilling both his athletic goal of qualifying for the 2008 USA Marathon Olympic Trials and his social goal of serving the Katharine and George Community Law Center (KGACLC) in San Jose.

Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Service excelled in both cross-country and track & field for the Archbishop Mitty High School Monarchs. Taking his intense passion for running and life down south, he went onto have a successful career at UC-Santa Barbara in both sports before returning to his hometown to attend law school at Santa Clara University.

Splitting his time between professional distance running as a member of the Asics Aggies Olympic Development team, coaching a youth track club, and attending law school, Service added KGACLC to his current curriculum. The Center graciously provides numerous legal services to an impoverished sector of society.

Service also has his sights set on the US Olympic Marathon Trials, set to take place in New York City on November 4, 2007. However, in order to compete in those trials, Service must run under 2:22.00, a brisk 5:25 per mile over the 26.2 mile distance. In his marathon debut last June, Service was the first American finisher across the line, racing to a 2:24.42 at the San Diego Rock ‘n Roll marathon.

Training harder than ever this year, Service has been recording personal records at almost every distance bringing the dream closer to reality. Last week, Service competed at the 2007 USA Cross-Country Championships in the high altitude of Boulder, CO. Despite being significantly disadvantaged due to training at sea-level, he still finished 35th in one of the deepest fields in U.S. Cross Country Championship history surrounded by past Olympians and National champions.

Now Service is attempting to fulfill his Olympic Trials goal at the L.A. marathon on March 4, 2007, but before the gun goes off he is trying to fulfill the charitable goals of the Community Law Center. Service has been working at KGACLC in the worker’s rights division. Recognizing the powerful service the Center provides for people everyday, he has decided to help raise much needed funds for a law center that serves those who cannot afford an attorney, and that without the help of KGACLC, their legal problems– involving job security, financial stability, immigration status, or even basic physical safety –would be left unaddressed.

KGACLC operates with nearly a dozen full-time staff and is funded largely by non-university dollars. It advises, counsels, and represents low-income clients on legal issues involving workers’ rights, workers’ compensation, immigration, and consumer protection. Service is running the L.A. marathon in the name of KGACLC and in the honor of the people that fight for low-income individuals who too often do not have a voice.

It is the mission of "Swift Justice" to raise $10,000 before crossing the line on March 4th. For more information on "Swift Justice" or J.T. Service please contact:

David Monico: 805-452-3580

JT Service: 408-406-6490 or Email: jservice@scu.edu

For more information on KGACLC or to make a donation please contact:

Sergio Lopez: 408-288-7030 ext. 256 or Email: smlopez@scu.edu

Checks can be made payable to: KGACLC, SCU

Ogilvie and Brewer cy pres donation
04/07/2005

The Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center is pleased to be the beneficiary of a substantial cy pres award that resulted from a class action lawsuit brought by San Francisco attorneys Andrew J. Ogilvie and Carol M. Brewer. The case was recently settled in Santa Clara County Superior Court. It was brought on behalf of consumers whose rights were violated when a bank ignored an injunction that had ordered it to stop collection activities on deficiency claims from its sale of repossessed cars. In the earlier case in which the injunction had been obtained, the lender had agreed to stop its collection activities, to recall accounts from collection agencies, and to clear the consumers’ credit reports. But as Ogilvie and Brewer discovered, the bank had ignored all of those promises to more than 1,000 California consumers. Ogilvie and Brewer sued on behalf of those consumers. The bank agreed to a substantial settlement, and numerous members of the class received compensation. Some members of the class, called ‘absent class members’, could not be located. Funds that were due to the absent class members, called cy pres funds, were distributed with the consent of the court to non-profit organizations whose work benefits the interests of the absent class members. The Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center’s consumer practice area represents many low-income individuals who have suffered from the unfair business practices of car dealers.

The Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center, the civil clinical program of Santa Clara University School of Law, educates law students in accordance with the highest professional and ethical standards by serving individuals and communities in need with competence, conscience and compassion, through pro bono legal representation and education. In 2004, the Law Center gave legal advice and counsel to over 900 low-income clients and gave community workshop presentations to more than 1,500 individuals.

Andrew J. Ogilvie and Carol M. Brewer represent consumers in a variety of areas, including auto fraud, unlawful automobile repossession, and cases involving credit reporting issues. Their gesture and efforts to assign a portion of their cy pres fund to the Center demonstrate the confidence they have in the Law Center’s work. Awards such as this recognize the benefit the community receives and encourages others to support that work through other cy pres funds or individual contributions.

Justice is Served
09/21/04
The story of the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center

SCU Law Students Represent Immigration Clients Successfully
03/16/2004
More clients escape abuse

Undergraduates Play a Key Role at the Law Center
01/06/2004
Experience may lead to law school

The Law Center Celebrates its 10-year Anniversary
12/11/2003
"...every Santa Clara law student should experience the East San José Community Law Center."

Used-Car Dealer Settles
11/30/2003
Law student scores another consumer law victory at the ESJCLC

Law Students Break New Ground in Immigration Law at the ESJCLC
11/18/2003
Abused client stays in the U.S.

NACA Names Scott Maurer Top Consumer Protection Advocate for 2003
11/04/2003
Law Center gains nation-wide recognition.

Community Law Center to Celebrate on October 24
10/15/2003
Ten Years of commitment to the community

Three Summer Immigration Successes
07/17/2003
Handled by East San Jose Community Law Clinic Students