Community Legal Information Clinic

Shereen Basi

Major: Political Science – Legal Studies
Hometown: Yuba City, CA
Class: Senior
Program Position: Administrative Director | Community Legal Information Center (CLIC)

How did you first get connected with Community Legal Information Center (CLIC)?
My legal studies advisor mentioned CLIC and how it may interest me, considering I am interested in being an attorney. All of my steps at CLIC basically fell into place after that: joining as an intern in the Housing Law Project as a sophomore, then the following year as director of that program, and eventually becoming an administrative director this year. After my initial experiences at CLIC, I found my home.

How would you describe your role as the Administrative Director at CLIC?
Both my co-director, Danielle, and I, handle finances, budgeting, statistics maintenance, organizing events, and providing support to our program directors, among other things. We handle day-to-day issues and work with university officials, community members and organizations, and our supervising attorneys. CLIC is a non-profit student-run legal clinic that provides free legal information to students and all community members. We have 11 different departments that can assist clients with a wide range of legal issues. Under the direction of our attorneys, our primary objective is to continue to strengthen and sustain CLIC. My favorite role is working with fellow CLIC students who also share similar aspirations and interests.

What does working at CLIC do for you personally, professionally, or academically?
Working in CLIC and moving through the leadership ranks has been eye-opening. Personally, I’ve become more vocal and I’ve learned to listen to all sides of an issue before reaching any conclusion. Professionally, I’ve learned what it's like to work in an office, and I’ve learned the significance of serving as a role model to interns and directors. Academically, I’ve been able to apply the subject matter I learn in my legal studies classes and put them into practice at CLIC. The people who come through our doors have real issues, and they depend on us to provide the best research possible to assist them in making an educated legal decision that can ultimately change their lives.

What do YOU hope to bring to the table in your role as the Administrative Director?
Once you’ve worked in several roles at CLIC and committed so much time to the cause, you gain a deep appreciation for the work. My aim to help others has really driven my work here at CLIC, and it makes my contributions even more significant.

What are your career plans and how does your role with the Associated Students better prepare you for that path?
I plan to start law school this upcoming year, but there is still a chance that I may opt to take a gap year before to gain further experience as a paralegal. Certainly, my role at CLIC has prepared me to handle high-pressure situations, face deadlines, maintain communications with a plethora of students, faculty, and campus entities and approach situations with an open mind. CLIC has solidified my career plans to pursue my dream career in the legal field, particularly assisting disadvantaged populations.