Third-year Hofstra Law student Jennifer Tabios has always wanted to leave a positive impact on the world. Coming to Hofstra Law she found a way she could do exactly just that. Since stepping foot on campus she has actively been involved in clinics, experiential learning programs, and student organizations.
The Youth Advocacy Clinic
A highlight of Jennifer’s Hofstra Law career has been the Youth Advocacy Clinic. Students in the Clinic represent youth in special immigrant juvenile matters and child maltreatment cases.
Throughout the duration of the semester students gain experience in picking up cases at arraignment, engaging in dynamic motion practice, and conducting full trials and hearings, among many other things.
“Not everyone gets to say they’ve been in court prior to finishing law school,” she says. “I think that experience has been worth the most to me because before coming to law school, I thought that idea would be so scary but now being able to say that I’ve done it, it’s been a great experience.”
Experiential Learning Programs
Every semester since being at Hofstra Law Jennifer has participated in at least one program or organization to build upon her legal skills.
She has experience volunteering at call centers for the Unemployment Action Center and Hofstra Law’s Legal Hand Call-In Center. The Legal Hand Call-In Center is a program that goes along with the access to justice course supervised by Judge Fern Fisher. Students in the program assist visitors with free legal information and referrals to help prevent their issues from turning into legal problems.
Jennifer has participated in an internship with the Chosen Family Law Center Inc. where she was able to assist in name and gender marker changes. She has also worked with the Nassau County Matrimonial Center. Her participation in these varied experiences gave her practice with being in the courtroom where she was able to “observe both court trial hearings and conferences.”
Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA)
For Jennifer, being a part of student organizations is just as important as participating in clinics and other experiential learning programs. It is a way to make friends, enhance your law school experience and make lasting legal connections.
She is currently the vice president of the Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) where she works to create representation for Asian American students at Hofstra Law. Each semester APALSA holds events and meetings where students can talk about relevant issues that affect the Asian community.
“We’ve shared our stances on different things that are happening. When Asian American hate crimes rose during the pandemic we released a statement condemning those attacks,” she says. “We’ve really tried to foster a space where Asian Americans feel comfortable and come to us if they need help whether it be in their academics, a simple mock interview, or in mentorship programs.”
Future Ambitions
Jennifer is hopeful for what the future holds for her. She would like to continue to be a helping hand to those in need and has been inspired from her work at the Youth Advocacy Clinic to find a position where she can “work with kids and advocate for them to have legal status within this country,” as a career.
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