After the dust is cleared, the Dominican Conference Center will be the new home for Loyola’s Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic.
The Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center of Social Justice provides legal services to the needy. The clinic allows third-year law students to represent needy clients under the supervision of experienced attorneys.
Ramona Fernandez, Associate Clinic Director, said, “We provide a service to the certain portion of the population that could not otherwise get service.”
These services include legal representation in areas of homeless advocacy, child support/custody battles, and divorces. The law clinic is currently housed inside Loyola University College of Law. Fernandez said the move is greatly needed.
“We don’t have enough space to meet with clients and students on a regular basis. The Dominican Center will give us enough interview rooms and office space to house all of our students, faculty and staff,” Fernandez said.
Renovations for the Dominican Conference Center began this summer. The renovations for the center are a part of the Phase I construction master plan for Loyola University, which is a $35 million effort to improve the school’s infrastructure.
Robert S. Oehlke Jr., director of construction and safety said, “It is estimated that the construction will last for nine months.” The renovations for Dominican Conference Center are estimated to be completed by June 2011.
“This is a huge milestone for the clinic,” Fernandez said.
Arisa Banks can be reached at a
