Photograph: Eagle statue outside law school.

Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Award

Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) Outstanding Student Award was created to honor one law student at each law school who has excelled in a clinical course. The award is given annually at the completion of the academic year.

Criteria for the award are:

  • Excellence in the field work component of the clinical course determined by the quality of the student's performance in assisting or representing individual or organizational clients or in undertaking advocacy, community development, education, or policy reform projects;
  • Excellence in the seminar component of the clinical course determined by the quality of the student's thoughtfulness and self-reflection in exploring the legal, ethical, strategic, professional, and other pertinent issues raised in the particular clinic; and
  • The nature and extent of the student's contribution to the clinical community at the student's law school, if relevant.

Washburn Law students who have been recognized with the CLEA Outstanding Student Award are:

  • 2019-2020: Lillian A. Chin
  • 2018-2019: Elias M. Underwood
  • 2016-2017: Lisa Martin
  • 2014-2015: Jessica Conrow
  • 2013-2014: Alex Zimmerman
  • 2009-2010: Jonathon Noble
  • 2008-2009: Jennifer Amyx
Nomination and Selection

The full-time clinical faculty at each law school with faculty who are members of CLEA are asked to nominate a single student from their law school. The faculty must agree on one recipient for the award. The only exception to this rule will be in instances where two students worked as a team on a single case or project, and each student’s work was indistinguishable from the other's.