New Clinic at Brooklyn Law School to Address Pandemic-related Employment Issues

In a time of severe economic crisis for many low-income and contingent workers, Brooklyn Law School has announced that it will launch this summer the Pandemic Employment Relief Clinic (PERC), a legal assistance project to address these immediate needs. Under the supervision of Professor Minna Kotkin, director of the Law School’s Employment Law Clinic, students will have the opportunity to serve clients in the community, particularly freelancers, gig workers, and those not normally eligible for unemployment insurance.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has left so many workers in an economically vulnerable position, and we are pleased to have found a way our law students can assist,” said Kotkin. “As one of the few clinical programs that focuses on unemployment insurance, we were uniquely positioned to create this program very quickly to meet the needs of these unprecedented times. It will also give our students the opportunity to gain meaningful legal experience when summer opportunities are now so limited.”

The eight-week project will run during the summer school term, beginning with a remote mini-course that will provide training in the new unemployment insurance and family leave laws. Students will then be assigned clients who they will advise remotely with regular faculty supervision. The program will be open to all current first- and second-year students who will participate on a pro bono basis or receive funding through a public service summer grant.

For more information, please contact clinics@brooklaw.edu.