Crowell & Moring and the University of the District of Columbia School of Law Launch the Took Crowell Institute for At-Risk Youth

Washington, D.C. – November 23, 2010: Crowell & Moring LLP and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) David A. Clarke School of Law are proud to announce the establishment of the Took Crowell Institute for At-Risk Youth. A reception and induction ceremony is planned for Tuesday, November 30, at 5:00 pm at the UDC School of Law campus, 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Building 39, 2nd Floor. Featured speakers include Vincent Gray, District of Columbia’s Mayor-elect, among other dignitaries. 

The Took Crowell Institute builds on the long-term work already underway at the law school’s Juvenile and Special Education Law Clinic by providing three innovative legal clinics and law reform advocacy designed to help at-risk youth become educated and productive members of society. This pioneering program for reversing the school-to-prison pipeline meets a critical need in the District and is a model for children’s advocates around the country. 

The institute was made possible through an initial $675,000 grant over six years from Crowell & Moring in memory of Eldon "Took" Crowell, the firm's first chairman and long-time leader who passed away in May. Mr. Crowell, a devoted humanitarian and champion of pro bono legal services, was named one of the "Greatest Washington Visionaries in the last 30 years" by Legal Times. The institute will provide more than 10,000 hours of direct pro bono representation to youth in the community each year by attorney-supervised law students through three legal clinics, as well as advocate for policy reforms that will contribute to systemic change. The institute provides for two full-time supervising attorneys to spearhead cases ranging from school discipline matters to Medicaid advocacy.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), "Children are far more likely to be arrested at school than they were a generation ago. The vast majority of these arrests are for non-violent offenses, such as 'disruptive conduct' or 'disturbance of the peace'." These zero-tolerance policies create a "school-to-prison pipeline" in which children are removed from the education system and placed in the criminal justice system, where they often remain as undereducated, repeat offenders.

"Nothing could better honor Took's memory than using our skills and resources to serve our city's most vulnerable members – our children," said Kent A. Gardiner, Crowell & Moring chairman. "Crowell & Moring's partnership with UDC's School of Law is an innovative and ambitious endeavor that we hope will lead to real change that will help parents and educators combat the school-to-prison pipeline, and give our children a better chance to achieve their full potential."

Katherine S. Broderick, dean of the David A. Clarke School of Law, said, "The Took Institute will allow us to work with children, the schools, and the justice system to change the trajectory of a child's life through early intervention. Our hope is that this approach of direct representation and policy advocacy will help the District's at-risk youth and serve as a model for other communities going forward."

The Took Institute will also provide a valuable training ground for future public interest lawyers. It will be managed by Executive Director Professor Joseph B. Tulman, a national leader in the field of special education and juvenile justice, and guided by an advisory board that will include Crowell & Moring attorneys as well as community members at large.

Took Crowell Institute Fact Sheet [PDF]

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with nearly 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels. Visit Crowell & Moring online at www.crowell.com.

As the only urban land-grant institution in the United States, the University of the District of Columbia (www.udc.edu) supports a broad mission of education, research, and community service across all member colleges and schools, which include the Community College of the District of Columbia, the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, the College Arts & Sciences, the School of Business and Public Administration, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the David A. Clarke School of Law. The David A. Clarke School of Law's clinical program is ranked among the top ten in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

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UDC Contact:

Alan Etter
University of the District of Columbia
David A. Clarke School of Law
202.274.5314
aetter@udc.edu