Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 2023

Abstract

This Article, co-authored by a law school clinician and an artist and lawyer, explores collaborations between the artist, a child advocacy clinic, and its clients (children in state foster care) in building a community that empowers clients by giving them voice through both traditional legal advocacy and non-traditional forms of socially engaged artistic expression. The Article aims to address some of the challenges and benefits of clinics creating alliances with artists and community-based arts organizations as part of their teaching and advocacy missions. We describe and provide examples of the practice of law as a creative exercise and argue that importing creative perspectives and approaches into a clinic can enrich the students' learning experience. We also consider how incorporating socially engaged artistic practices into legal advocacy for clients and client communities served by clinics gives them their own space to participate in their cases on the margins of the lawsuit, outside of the courtroom

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