Speaker Craig J. Coughlin Discusses Law Clinics’ Impact

(c)Michael Paras

New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D) visited Seton Hall University School of Law to learn how the Center for Social Justice and its clinics provide legal services to underserved communities while training the next generation of lawyers. The program brought together students and faculty working in housing, immigration and family law, highlighting the school’s commitment to public service and experiential legal education.

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New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin visited Seton Hall University School of Law to meet with students and faculty engaged in clinical legal work serving underserved communities across New Jersey. Upon arriving on campus, Coughlin met with Dean Ronald Weich before joining students and faculty from the Center for Social Justice for a program highlighting the law school’s housing, immigration and family law clinics.

The program, held in the DeCotiis Moot Court Room, was introduced by Associate Dean Lori Borgen, who outlined the mission of the Center for Social Justice and its role in pairing rigorous legal education with hands-on advocacy. She began by introducing the Housing Justice Project, an initiative which addresses tenants’ rights, housing instability, and systemic inequities. The Project consists of the the Civil Litigation and Practice Clinic, the Housing Justice and Legal Design Clinic, and student pro bono work. 

Housing Justice Project clinical students Tanya Panossian-Lesser, 4L, Rahim Mahmoud, 4L, and Chase Newman, 3L, shared their experiences working directly with affected communities. Mahmoud, a student in the Housing Justice and Legal Design Clinic, spoke about how his personal experiences shaped his commitment to housing justice.

“What struck me most was how swiftly landlords would post an eviction notice if rent was late, yet ignore tenants’ pleas for basic maintenance,” Mahmoud said. “It felt wrong then, and it certainly feels wrong now.”

Reflecting on his work with the clinic, Mahmoud described witnessing unsafe and undignified living conditions, from broken elevators to infestations, and emphasized that housing law is inseparable from human dignity. “Housing is not simply about shelter,” he said. “It shapes how children see themselves, how families thrive and how entire neighborhoods develop.”

Through the Housing Justice and Legal Design Clinic, Mahmoud said students collaborate directly with community members to co-create solutions. “Legal work is not only about transactions or litigation,” he said. “It’s about building trust, restoring dignity and empowering people to shape their own futures.” His remarks underscored how clinical education delivers immediate legal relief while training students to approach the law in a human-centered way.

The discussion then turned to the Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI), a state-funded program that provides legal representation to individuals facing deportation and detention. Faculty and students described the due process challenges confronting immigrant communities and the high stakes of removal proceedings. Students shared how working directly with detained clients and conducting country-condition research deepens their understanding of immigration law and professional responsibility.

Christpher Van Haight, 2L, is a CSJ Fellow and pro bono volunteer with DDDI. He reflected on his experience, “For many of our clients, we are the first lawyer they have ever spoken to. “That responsibility changes how you understand the law and the consequences of every decision.”

Professor Lissette Diaz, director of the Family Law Clinic, then discussed the clinic’s work representing survivors of domestic violence and individuals navigating complex family court matters. She emphasized the long-term and often generational impact of family law cases, as well as the responsibility student advocates bear while managing cases from intake through trial under close faculty supervision. The clinics, train lawyers to practice ethically and thoughtfully, with a clear understanding of how legal outcomes affect families and communities.

Throughout the program, Coughlin listened closely and then shared his thoughts, reflecting on his experience as a former municipal court judge and practicing attorney. “I’ve been in landlord-tenant court,” he said. “I know how fast those proceedings move and how frightening it can be for someone who doesn’t understand the process or the language being used.”

“All the people administering the process know exactly what they’re doing,” he added. “The person at the center often does not—and that imbalance is real.”

Coughlin praised the law school’s clinics for helping to correct that imbalance, noting that guidance as simple as explaining what will happen next or clarifying a client’s rights can have a profound impact. He also emphasized the importance of public investment in legal services and clinical education.

“When people criticize these programs as unnecessary spending, they’re talking about access to justice,” Coughlin said. “If we want courts to function fairly, people need representation and guidance.”

He closed by encouraging students to continue pursuing public service and to recognize the broader significance of their work. “Every time you help someone navigate a system they don’t understand, you strengthen that system,” Coughlin said. “That’s what the law is supposed to do.”

The visit underscored how Seton Hall Law’s clinical programs integrate rigorous legal training with meaningful service. From housing advocacy to immigration defense and family law representation, students demonstrated that the practice of law is grounded in listening, trust and accountability. Through these programs, Seton Hall Law continues to prepare lawyers equipped to meet complex legal challenges and advance justice in New Jersey and beyond.