Renee Applegate ’25 Wins Positive Outcomes for Clients During Individual Representation Clinic  

Headshot photo of law student Renee Applegate standing in front of a skyline in business attire.

Recent graduate Renee Applegate plans to use the litigation skills she developed in UC Law SF’s longest-running clinic in her future work representing plaintiffs in class actions.

Renee Applegate ’25 says representing two clients from start to finish while gaining litigation skills in the Individual Representation Clinic was incredibly meaningful. 

  • Served as co-lead counsel for two clients from start to finish as part of the Individual Representation Clinic, UC Law SF’s longest-running clinic.  
  • Plans to use the litigation skills honed in the clinic in her future career as a plaintiff-side class-action lawyer.  
  • Grateful to the alumni who recommended the clinic and shared how formative it was to their own careers.

Renee Applegate ’25: 

In the Individual Representation Clinic, my clinic partner and I took full responsibility for two cases: one clean-slate case and one Social Security appeal. We served the clients from the initial interview through the final court order and hearing. 

Not only does this work provide access to justice for individuals who might not otherwise have legal representation, but it also offers an incredible opportunity to handle a case from start to finish before graduating.  

This experience was incredibly rewarding and has been one of the most meaningful parts of my law school journey.  

As someone who will be joining a plaintiff-side class-action firm after the bar, I felt it was important to gain client-centered experience before taking on the responsibility of representing an entire class of plaintiffs. The clinic allowed me to do just that.   

I gained practical litigation skills, including client interviewing, case planning, fact development, legal writing (briefs and motions), and hearing preparation (opening statements, direct and cross-examinations, and closing arguments) – and saw firsthand how they support a successful case.  

For anyone interested in litigation, I cannot recommend the Individual Representation Clinic enough. The clinic has been around for over 25 years, and many alumni have credited it with giving them the foundational skills they use in their practice today. In fact, I was encouraged to take this clinic by an alum who spoke very highly of the experience. 

My favorite UC Law SF memory is the moment my clinic partner and I found out that we had secured successful outcomes for both of our clients. We obtained a discretionary dismissal of a past conviction for one client, giving them a fresh start, and secured Social Security Income benefits for our second client, ensuring they receive the support they deserve. 

Having the chance to make a direct impact in clients’ lives made this experience so meaningful.