D.C. Law Students in Court Rebrands at 50

August 19, 2019

To mark its 50 years of service this year, the D.C. Law Students in Court has renamed itself Rising for Justice to better reflect the organization’s broader scope and the impact of its mission.

Founded in 1969 by six D.C.-area law schools to address the almost total lack of legal representation of clients in the D.C. Superior Court Small Claims Branch, Rising for Justice has gained national recognition for training social justice advocates and representing clients facing serious legal matters.

“Our staff, students, interns, board, law school partners, and funders are driven to help individuals rise to the justice they deserve and, in so doing, help our entire community rise to the standard of justice for all,” said Moses Cook, executive director of Rising for Justice in a press statement. “Our new name reflects the mission and passion that has driven our organization for the past 50 years and will drive us into the future.”

Rising for Justice has achieved many successes over the past 50 years. Originally focused on civil matters, Rising for Justice has expanded to include a Criminal Defense Clinic. The organization has also developed innovative programs around expungement and immigration, initiated the Civil Protection Order Project, and pioneered the integration of social work students with clinical legal education. Through its Eviction Defense Services and legal clinic programs, law students, supervising attorneys, and staff attorneys provide representation to more than 4,000 clients each year.