Helping Vulnerable Children Reinforces 3L CJ Andrea Molo’s Career Goals

Working with youths in the welfare system during the Child Welfare Practicum highlighted the importance of balancing empathy with professionalism for 3L CJ Andrea Molo..

3L student CJ Andrea Molo reflects on working with vulnerable children at East Bay Children’s Law Offices (EBCLO) through UC Law SF’s Child Welfare Practicum. Molo developed client-attorney relationship-building skills and learned about the importance of legal support for underrepresented children and young people. 

• Helped clients apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status while working for East Bay Children’s Law Offices for their Child Welfare Practicum. 
• Developed legal skills in trial advocacy, client-attorney relationship building, and legal research and writing. 
• Affirmed their career goal of working with children and young people in migrant communities. 

3L CJ Andrea Molo:

For the Child Welfare Practicum, I worked for East Bay Children’s Law Offices (EBCLO), where I observed dependency court hearings, prepared case documents, and thought through trial/case strategies with my supervising attorney, supporting the organization’s mission of advocating for our clients’ best interests.  

I worked with clients applying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and children from a variety of cultural backgrounds. During the practicum I developed an array of legal skills including trial advocacy, client-attorney relationship building, legal research and writing, and case management.  

My favorite part of the practicum was meeting the children and visiting them at their foster homes, schools, or workplaces throughout Northern California. I love being updated on their daily lives and learning more about who they are and growing up to be as people—not just as clients in a case. 

We often underestimate the importance of childhood development. Our childhood experiences are often carried with us into adulthood and influence the way we interact with others, our self-esteem, and the way we perceive the world. Many children in the child welfare system experience persistent insecurity, either within their households or caused by the system itself. 

What I respect about EBCLO’s work is that as an attorney for dependency youth, you are fighting for children to be seen and heard. Children are the most vulnerable individuals in our society, whose agency and autonomy are not recognized by adults around them. Working for EBCLO, you get to show children that they matter, and that their opinions and thoughts should be taken into consideration. And being an attorney for dependency youth calls you to be an adult who your clients can depend on. 

Coming into law school, I knew that I wanted to work with migrant communities. Now as a 3L, I’ve learned that I’d also love to work with children and young people. As an immigrant myself, I want to give back to these communities and provide services that can strengthen families of color. I’m very humbled I got to do this with EBCLO. 

Regardless of whether you end up working in dependency law, there are so many transferable skills you can acquire through working with EBCLO. Also, working with foster youth exposes you to complicated situations that push you to become more open-minded, solution-oriented, and trauma and culturally informed. 

The Evidence of Success series highlights UC Law SF students as they share how the college’s opportunities equip them with the experience, skills, and confidence to excel in the legal profession.