Thriving Under Pressure, Delivering Results for Client Make Clinic Experience Memorable for 2L Yasmin Thompson

A portrait Yasmin Thompson with the San Francisco Civic Center in the background.

2L Yasmin Thompson’s experience crafting arguments for clients in the Individual Representation Clinic helped her build the skills and confidence to pursue a career as a public defender after graduation.

2L student Yasmin Thompson says the “powerful” collaborations and work to serve clients in the Individual Representation Clinic are “transformative” for her career goals.   

  • Represented a minor in a Social Security case and another client in a clean-slate case.  
  • Aspires to be a public defender and appreciates the client-centered approach of the clinic.  
  • Says the clinic “pushed me in ways I never expected and showed me the depths of my own resilience.”                        

2L Yasmin Thompson: 

I had the privilege of working on two incredibly impactful cases in the Individual Representation Clinic: one involving a Social Security case for a minor and the other a clean-slate case.  

This work is vital because every client we serve isn’t just seeking legal help. They’re searching for someone to stand up for them, to truly listen, and to advocate on their behalf. The clinic instills in us how to be attorneys who center the needs of the client above all else. It’s not just about winning cases; it’s about ensuring justice and dignity for those who often feel overlooked.  

This experience has been transformative in shaping my career goals. As someone who aspires to be a public defender, the clinic gave me the tools and confidence to become a client-centered lawyer. But the skills you gain—listening, empathy, advocacy—are essential for becoming a great lawyer, no matter your path. 

I’ve learned how to craft compelling arguments, ask the right questions, conduct thorough interviews, and—perhaps most importantly—how to believe in myself. It’s made me realize I can not only do this work but excel at it.     

I also learned so much about myself that textbooks could never teach me: how I react under pressure, the importance of managing deadlines, the challenge of reaching out to witnesses, and the art of collaborating with partners and clients. It pushed me in ways I never expected and showed me the depths of my own resilience.                        

This experience also led to my favorite UC Law SF memory — sitting with Professor Brittany Glidden and my clinic partner as we meticulously worked on our brief line by line. There’s something so powerful about collaborating like that. 

She and the other professors are some of the most passionate, dedicated individuals you’ll ever meet, and they make the whole experience unforgettable. 

When we won the case, it felt like all the hard work paid off in the most beautiful way possible. That moment of victory, knowing we helped make a difference, will stay with me forever.  

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.