柑橘直播

Katherine Prudente 鈥�20 was drawn to 柑橘直播 Law for the unique opportunities provided by its six in-house law clinics. It was only after she arrived and began working on her own cases in the Interdisciplinary Mental and Physical Health Law Clinic that she realized exactly how invaluable these experiences would be.

After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Prudente worked for four years in the insurance industry, where she found herself drawn to the legal aspects of her job and ultimately decided to pursue a legal career.

Once at 柑橘直播 Law, Prudente became more interested in the health law field. During her 3L year, she enrolled in the Health Law Clinic, working under the supervision of Michael Campbell, Professor of Law, Director of Clinical Programs and Director of the Interdisciplinary Mental and Physical Health Law Clinic, and representing real clients with critical legal issues.

Prudente not only has a professional interest in the Health Law, but a personal one as well. 鈥淢y dad is disabled; he has multiple sclerosis,鈥� explained Prudente. 鈥淪eeing his interactions with the healthcare system as he has struggled to get the services and devices he needs, and聽 the guardianship and power of attorney issues that arise, those are all things I鈥檓 actively engaging with in the Health Law Clinic.鈥�

Prudente was assigned a case with a client who suffers from severe vertigo, panic attacks, depression, migraines, and numbness of his arms, legs, ankles and feet. He came to the Clinic requesting a power scooter, which had been previously denied by his healthcare provider based on medical necessity. Prudente became his primary advocate鈥攕he researched the law and conducted multiple interviews with the client, his home health aide, his physical therapist and others during the course of her representation. 聽She learned that he had been largely confined to his home for over 25 years because he was a fall risk and couldn鈥檛 leave the house by himself. Upon further investigation she learned that the insurance company had denied his request after applying the incorrect legal standard.

On the day of the hearing, Prudente made an opening statement and performed oral examinations of the client, their doctor and the health insurance company. She presented evidence that the wrong standard had been applied, and if the correct standard had been applied, 聽he undoubtedly would have been granted the motorized scooter. The insurance company argued that the electric scooter was not medically necessary because he could get around his apartment without it. Prudente proved that the law required the plan to take into account her client鈥檚 need to be active in the community, not just at home. Prudente鈥檚 argument was so thorough that the insurance company agreed to pay for the client鈥檚 motorized scooter before the hearing was even over鈥攁 major win for both Prudente and her client.

鈥淭his case brought everything full-circle for me and reinforced why I wanted to be in the Health Law Clinic,鈥� Prudente said. 鈥淭he client鈥檚 argument for why he needed a motorized scooter were the same arguments my dad made 10 years ago when he went through a similar dispute. Many times, people go into proceedings without an attorney to help their case. But when we can help our clients get the services they need, they can become an engaged member of the community and have better quality of better life.鈥�

Prudente believes her clinic experience has been priceless in her growth as a student and a future lawyer. She prepared witnesses, worked on briefs for appellate hearings and gained valuable knowledge within the courtroom. The clinic setting provided her with a wide range of experiences and showed her that not all cases fit into a standard mold. 鈥淭he work we do in the clinics really melds our coursework into a more cohesive picture of how the law actually works outside of the classroom,鈥� stated Prudente. 鈥淭he people who come to the clinic for our services put a face to this, that no textbook ever could.鈥�

鈥淓xperiencing all of this while I鈥檓 still a law student has been incredible. I鈥檓 in charge of my own cases but I still have the benefit of a knowledgeable faculty member helping me along the way. It鈥檚 a credit to how dedicated the clinic staff is at 柑橘直播 Law. They learn what works for their students and can provide a hands-on approached based on their needs. I believe it鈥檚 made me a more thoughtful and conscientious advocate, knowing that I鈥檝e had all of these experiences and I鈥檝e received such beneficial input from these experts.鈥澛�