Participating in the Civil Rights Clinic was a turning point in my law school career. Before I entered the clinic, I knew that I wanted to eventually pursue a career in the field of individual rights/civil liberties litigation, but I had a lot of doubts as to whether or not I’d be able to successfully achieve my longtime goal: Questions like, “will I be able to perform the work,” and “am I smart enough to do the work well” often ran through my mind. Working with Professor Natarajan at the civil rights clinic marked a turning point in my law school career because I was able to leave having dispelled the uncertainties and doubts that law school’s stressful environment can sometimes cause everyone to have.
The program is rigorous, and much will be expected of those who decide to enroll in the program; however, the work is also incredibly gratifying and has the absolute best clients. The clinic’s atmosphere is one that mirrors Professor Natarajan’s personality and work ethic: As busy as you may be–Professor Natarajan will always be ten times busier, seem way less stressed out than you are, and will give you the impression that deadlines and high workloads can be offset by loving your job if you choose the right field to practice in. It’s often said that law school is about learning how to think, and this is true; part of what made working with Professor Natarajan so helpful is that she helped bridge the gap that divides knowing how to think about the law and knowing how to effectively and efficiently go about applying the law. When I was considering enrolling in the program a good friend of mine (who was then practicing at the time) told me that he thought the clinic helped prepare him more than any other class that he’d taken insofar as practical litigation skills are concerned; I think he’s right, and I think most people I know would agree with this. (All this being said, Professor Natarajan is also just one of the nicest, caring, and intelligent people that I know, which is saying something considering how great UT’s Faculty and Staff are.)
I never regretted enrolling in the clinic, and I don’t know anyone who feels differently.