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By: Matthew Duke ’24
When we learn about billable hours, court fees, and litigation costs, we begin to understand just how expensive it can be to be wrapped up in a lawsuit. The costs can rack up even if someone is defending a suit that was brought against them.
The cost of defending a lawsuit can be exasperated if the defendant has incurred any consumer debts. Enter the Western New York Law Center and the Buffalo Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO) program.
The CLARO-Buffalo program hosts a clinic on Tuesdays and Fridays where those facing legal issues with regards to debt can come to receive legal advice in a limited capacity on how to handle their issues. People come to the clinic with a wide scope of issues, whether they receive a summons and complaint for a lawsuit, are having their wages garnished, had their bank accounts frozen, or were being harassed by debt collectors. The volunteer attorney of the morning program run by the WNYLC provides representation for discrete court appearances in certain courts in the area.
The clinic brought people from many different walks of life, the majority of which had the same issue. They had a legal issue because of a debt that was in their name. It was surprising to see just how many people are in some kind of credit card debt, but even more surprising than that was the amount of lenders who partake in predatory lending practices. Even some practices that are not predatory by law, many lenders act in a way that I, personally, would consider unethical and predatory. The number of debts that are sold to debt buyers who then harass debtors and bring lawsuits against them is baffling. Little did I know, from a legal perspective, this turns out to be better for the defendants, because debt buyers often do not have the required proof to successfully sue to collect a debt.
One cool aspect of the internship was the WNYLC’s drive to get their legal interns student practice orders. These allow us to argue in front of judges, as well as other legal tasks, under the supervision of the Center’s attorneys. I was slated to argue a case this summer, but right before the court appearance, I assisted in a negotiation with Plaintiff’s counsel. It was a bittersweet moment, as it would have been a great experience that I would have enjoyed very much, but we got the CLARO visitor a great deal, which ultimately was the goal in the first place.
I learned a lot in my summer with the WNYLC, and I really enjoyed my time there, to boot. It was all made possible by the University at Buffalo School of Law Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program. I’d like to thank those that donate to the Law School’s Summer Public Interest Funding & Fellowship Program for making this summer possible, as it was, all-in-all, a wonderful experience for me. I’d also like to thank all the wonderful people I worked with at the WNYLC, they were essential in making my experience what it was, and I owe them a great deal for what they taught me this summer. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend taking a position at the WNYLC. You help people, learn a lot, and meet some really terrific people.
Name: Matthew Duke ’24
Fellowship: WNYLC Summer Fellowship
Placement: Western New York Law Center
Location: Buffalo, NY
One important lesson I have learned from this fellowship: “The three C’s. There are only three things in a court room that will give you problems: court, counsel, client. You have to balance them at the same time, and that’s the hardest part.”
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