In early March, a group of four students from Cornell Law School’s Securities Law Clinic traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s 2024 Investor Advocacy Clinic Summit. Led by Robert Banks, adjunct professor of law, students Nicholas Hietpas ’24, Zachary Hunt ’24, Jade Lee ’24, and Jianing Zhao ’24 joined members of the SEC’s staff in a live panel discussion about the far-reaching impact of law school clinics that offer free legal services to underrepresented investors.
During the summit, students from nine different law school clinics took turns sharing their experiences, highlighting the impact of their work on their clients, their respective communities, and on the students themselves.
“Participating in the Investor Advocacy Clinic Summit was an eye-opening and rewarding opportunity,” said Zhao, who answered questions from the panel’s moderator about her experiences interacting with prospective clients. “Sharing insights about our clinic’s work, hearing various panels’ presentations, and exchanging thoughts with fellow law students and SEC representatives was incredibly fulfilling.
