Top of page
Law

HeLP Clinic students win case for child with a disability

Wooden gavel with wheelchair in background

Three law students from the Health Law Partnership (HeLP) Legal Services Clinic won a court victory for a child with a disability this spring. An administrative law judge with the Social Security Administration ruled that the child had erroneously been denied supplemental security income (SSI) benefits.

Georgia State Law students Meagan Beatty (J.D. ’20), Ragan Morrison (J.D. ’19) and Laura Trejo (J.D. ’19) represented the child’s mother on appeal. In his favorable decision, the administrative law judge relied on the evidence and legal arguments highlighted in the brief the students had drafted.

“After winning the case, our client felt vindicated the family was finally receiving the benefits to which they were entitled,” said Jimmy Mitchell, HeLP clinical supervising attorney and adjunct instructor of law. “The law students were extremely proud that they had made a difference in the lives of this family.”

On this particular case, the child had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

“Working on a case for a child with this type of diagnosis presents a challenge for our students because, unlike a physical disability, such a condition cannot readily be seen by the eye,” Mitchell said. “In this case, the students needed to be creative and resourceful in order to demonstrate to the judge the severe challenges the child faces.”

You might also like

female teacher sitting at desk with a Down syndrome schoolboy female teacher sitting at desk with a Down syndrome schoolboy

$14m boost to support students with disabilities

A multi-million-dollar boost to infrastructure at public schools across South…

School of Law and Social Justice building School of Law and Social Justice building

New centre to improve law and lives through community-led research

The University of Liverpool will lead an innovative new research…

Sara Becarevic warms up before performing a gymnastics routine in Visoko, Bosnia, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Sara Becarevic warms up before performing a gymnastics routine in Visoko, Bosnia, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.

NSW Govt and Paralympics Australia support inclusive sports program

Paralympics Australia’s Imagine Education Program involves year 3-6 students at…

Young boy with crutches walling with his friend at refuge camp Young boy with crutches walling with his friend at refuge camp

World failing persons with disabilities: UN

Although persons with disabilities represent a sizeable 16 per cent…