As we reach the end of a remarkable academic year, we reflect on the successes and milestones achieved by our law students, faculty, and staff. In the face of challenges to the rule of law and democracy, the Law Center remained steadfast in upholding its mission of teaching, advocacy, and service. Thankfully, we delivered on our promise.      

Under the supervision of experienced attorneys, Law Center students held 66 advice clinics and provided direct legal services for over 550 clients. Law students logged over 5,500 hours of volunteer time, representing nearly $1M in fair-market value legal services. Through direct services, community education, and outreach, the Law Center reached over 3,000 individuals and families. This vital work is not done alone, and we are grateful for our partnerships. The snapshot below illustrates how the Law Center partners with volunteers, students, and community organizations to fulfill our mission. 

Lastly, this year’s Celebration will be extra special as we honor and recognize retiring Clinical Professor Lynette Parker. She leaves a legacy of excellence that will influence our team for years to come. Professor Parker will be sorely missed. Join our Celebration on Saturday, October 24th at 5:30 pm and celebrate all we have accomplished together. 

We have immense gratitude for the privilege of working alongside our client community and you for 30+ years to advance justice for consumers, immigrants, workers, and the unhoused. 

Continued blessings,

Deborah Moss-West, J.D. '94
Executive Director

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Consider making a gift to keep our programs strong; we’d be quite grateful.

Our deepest gratitude goes to the incredible team of volunteer attorneys who generously donate their time, expertise, and hearts to the Law Center. By taking time from their busy lives to engage with our law students and help those in need, these dedicated professionals are vital to our clinic operations. Their willingness to mentor the next generation of legal leaders while delivering vital services allows us to expand our educational efforts and serve more clients effectively.

In a humbling testament to the Law Center’s mission, many volunteers are former students who return because they credit the faculty and staff with building their legal skills and shaping the way they practice law.  We are honored to work alongside these outstanding lawyers whose generosity represents the best of the legal profession. The result is a beautiful partnership between  educators and alumni who become colleagues! 

With Gratitude to Law Center Staff

Angelica Frias, Dianne Blakely, Reuben Castillo, Gam Galindo, Scott Maurer, Brie Mendoza, Maryam Nemazie, Lynette Parker, Margarita Sandoval, Ruth Silver Taube, and Cintia Vargas

With Gratitude to Center Attorney Volunteers

The Law Center works in partnership with Law Student Organizations (LSOs) to deliver quality legal services to the community. This year the Law Center partnered with the Latinx Law Student Association (LLSA) and the Labor and Employment Law Society (LELS) to offer legal clinics. 

During the clinics, law students and attorneys serve the community at an all-day Saturday, free legal clinic. The law students coordinate the event — preparing the flyers, conducting outreach to student volunteers, and connecting with organizations for participant outreach as needed. The Law Center trains and supervises the student volunteers, obtains the attorney volunteers, and provides the legal infrastructure for the event.

Bridge to Justice – Legal Clinic

The LLSA held the semiannual Bridge to Justice (B2J) legal clinics in October and March of this academic year, marking the 10th anniversary of an ongoing partnership of service. This  semester's clinic featured the involvement of 38 law students and eight attorney volunteers. Together, they provided free information and advice for 19 individuals and their families needing help with immigration and/or workers’ rights matters. 

"LLSA was proud to once again collaborate with the Law Center for the Bridge to Justice Clinic...Students felt empowered after the clinic to continue a journey committed to public service, increasing access to justice and advocating for those in our community with the greatest legal needs,” said B2J Co-Coordinators Cesar Jose Lugaro-Velazquez ’27 and Zoie Reyna ’27. 

Labor and Employment Law Society (LELS) Workers’ Rights Clinic

Since 2023, the Law Center has partnered with LELS to provide a workers’ rights clinic each spring. The April clinic featured the involvement of 16 students (law and undergraduate) and eight attorney volunteers. Collectively, this team served 19 individuals and their families. Kudos to LELS coordinators, whose excellent organizational skills and attention to detail made for a smooth volunteer and participant experience. 

“LELS was incredibly proud of the law students who participated in the Spring 2026 Workers’ Rights Clinic. With the help of Law Center faculty, volunteer attorneys, and staff, the students gained direct experience with clients and knowledge of California employment law. The students showed their commitment to public service and made long-lasting connections with talented legal professionals. And they did all that while helping members of the fantastic community that makes Santa Clara and the surrounding areas so great,” said Jeff Tuttle ’27, LELS Clinic Co-Coordinator.

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In addition to serving the community, the legal clinics foster collaboration among law students and alumni, enriching the experience for everyone involved. It is also wonderful to see the synergy between the students as they work together. Forever Broncos! 

Jae Vega '27

Rising 3L Jae Vega is the 2026 recipient of the Cindy Avitia Immigration Justice Summer Fellowship, established in 2017 through a partnership between the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center and La Raza Lawyers of Santa Clara County Charitable Foundation. The Foundation’s steadfast commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident in their numerous programs, including the $10,000 grant for the Fellow to work at the Law Center this summer. The goal of the Fellowship is to provide and expand legal assistance, education, and outreach for immigrant communities.

“I am incredibly grateful and honored to be the fellow this summer. I have spent the last year gaining vital experience through the immigration clinics at the Law Center where I have learned the skills necessary to become a zealous immigration attorney. Through this work, I have grown as an immigration advocate, developed meaningful client relationships, and learned what it means to practice law with integrity and compassion. I am eager to build on that foundation and continue contributing to the essential work of expanding access to justice for immigrant communities,” shared Jae. 

The fellowship is named in memory of Cindy Avitia, J.D. ’06, a long-time member of Santa Clara County La Raza Lawyers Association, graduate of Santa Clara Law, passionate advocate for immigrant rights, and former employee of the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center. The Law Center is grateful to the La Raza Lawyers of Santa Clara County Charitable Foundation for making this grant possible.

Contact Executive Director Deborah Moss-West at dmosswest@scu.edu if you’d like to support a summer fellow in our office.

The Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center is pleased to host our Annual Celebration on Saturday, October 24th at 5:30 pm in the Charney Hall Atrium on the Santa Clara University campus. 

Please invite your friends and colleagues. Email dblakely@scu.edu to donate or sponsor or if you have any questions about the event. Mark your calendar for this community-building Celebration!

The "Uncapped Innovation Brainstorm" at the Advisory Board Retreat was insightful and tapped into the Jesuit values that guide and inform our work. We are excited to share more about what's next and are ever grateful for the privilege of using our legal knowledge to be in service to others.

Want to add your voice, volunteer with the Law Center, fund a fellowship, or join the Advisory Board? Contact Executive Director Deborah Moss-West or Board Chair Delma Locke to learn more. Volunteers and supporters keep our program strong!