Sarah Haywood (1L)

Unemployment Law Project

Seattle, WA

Sarah is working at the Unemployment Law Project (ULP) this summer. ULP is a non-profit law firm in Seattle that provides free legal assistance and information to people in Washington State who have been denied unemployment benefits or whose award of benefits is challenged. As a summer intern, Sarah will be providing representation for clients in administrative hearings. She will be conducting intake interviews, developing legal theories, preparing clients for the hearing, and potentially assisting with an appeal if necessary. Sarah is interested in access to justice issues and is excited to be working with an organization that is providing low income communities with free/low-cost access to legal representation.

Sarah grew up in New Mexico and graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles, California with a degree in Spanish and Diplomacy and World Affairs.

August 4, 2011

Spending the summer at ULP has taught me a lot about practical skills needed to be an effective attorney as well as affirming my belief that there is an inequality in accessing our justice system.

I represented clients in over 10 hearings in front of Administrative Law Judges. I had to prepare the client as well as the case. Through each hearing I learned more about how to frame an argument, how to present the strongest case for an objection, how to cross-examine employer witnesses as well as how to work with my client in the most effective way for them. I found that I had to adjust my communication style with each client. With some I had to emphasize the procedure and rigidity of the process in order to get them to focus on presenting only the relevant facts. With other clients I really had to encourage them to answer questions openly because they were more reticent in telling their story.

Working at ULP, a non-profit law firm, helped to further engrain my belief that legal aid is a necessary resource for low-income communities. Often, clients that come to us did not previously realize that organizations like ULP existed and are grateful for any legal assistance. Many clients have expressed to me that they are intimidated by the system and feel much more comfortable having a representative in the hearing, even though they know they do not need one. This is one of many aspects that make the legal system inaccessible, whether a real or perceived inaccessibility, to people.

While I am not sure that I will continue my career in unemployment law, I know that I will continue to work in the legal aid field, providing legal services to those that cannot otherwise afford legal representation.

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June 29, 2011

Working at ULP has been a great experience. I have gotten the opportunity to engage with clients through the intake process and following their case through the hearing, whether conducting the hearing myself or in discussing the cases with other interns and attorneys in the office.

I have observed several hearings and had three of my own so far. With each one, I have learned new things and have developed my lawyering skills. Each client and case presents new challenges. Some client challenges are getting them to focus on the unemployment claim. Often, clients are facing other crises stemming from losing their job, their unemployment benefits, or both. This causes an additional sense of urgency to get the matter of their benefits resolved. It is sometimes a challenge to help a client organize their thoughts and documents in a way that best presents their case. Working with clients in pre-hearing conferences is an exercise in guiding them through their case in a way that is supported by a legal argument for them to receive benefits.

Challenges relating to representing clients in administrative hearings vary. Styles of judges tend to be very different and sometimes as a representative I am required to take a more traditional role conducting direct examination, cross examination, redirect, etc. However, with other judges, they will take the lead on questioning and my role will be to fill in with additional questions where I think important information needs to be covered. In doing closing statements, I am working on making them more reactive to the hearing itself rather then doing them in preparation for the hearing.

I am looking forward to representing more clients through the remainder of the summer. It is very satisfying to win a case with a client who has felt overpowered by the unemployment system. I recently had a client tell me how grateful she was and that now she would be able to pay rent. I feel honored to be able to help provide legal services to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it.