When Daniel Leizerman entered law school, he learned one thing very quickly: studying textbooks was not his ideal method of learning.
“I wasn’t satisfied sitting in class and reading cases all day,” Leizerman laughs. “So I talked to my parents and they suggested reaching out to Legal Aid in Cleveland.”
Leizerman, now in his second year of law school, has been working with The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland since the early days of his law school career. He has participated in 30 Brief Advice Clinics, where community members who need advice in civil matters can ask questions of volunteer attorneys and law students.
Last spring, he worked as an immigration extern, assisting with asylum petitions and violence against women act petitions, among other immigration-related tasks. This fall, Leizerman has been working with the Volunteer Lawyers Program, primarily handling expungements and wills cases.
“I’ve always known that I wanted to do public interest work,” he says. “I would like to work for Legal Aid after graduation, either in Cleveland or elsewhere. I’m actually in the process of applying to a third internship to continue working with Legal Aid.”
His efforts have been recognized: The Legal Aid Society recently awarded Leizerman the Volunteer Lawyers Program 2024 Access to Justice Award. The award, which recognizes significant contribution to advancing the mission of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland through pro bono commitment, was presented at the annual meeting on Nov. 25.