Susan Conn '79 talks with Colgate seniors Erin Hanna and Elly Arnoff (left to right) at the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York’s offices in Utica. (Photo by Caroline Jenkins)

Under the fluorescent lights of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York’s conference room in Utica one recent afternoon, Elly Arnoff, Erin Hanna, and George Martin pored over piles of court documents.

They looked over the case files and doctor reports, debated early interventions and dismissals, sat in on a client interview, and ended their day at the nonprofit discussing evidence with their mentor Susan M. Conn ’79, a pro bono attorney at Legal Aid.

Members of this trio, however, weren’t second- or third-year law students; these attorneys-in-training were Colgate seniors enrolled in a course titled the Upstate Law Project: Social Security Benefits for Disabled Children.

“To see them in action, it’s sometimes easy to forget that they’re just undergraduates,” said Conn. “They have such energy, passion, and already a pretty good grasp of the concepts.”

The course, an initiative of the university’s Upstate Institute, familiarizes students with the Social Security system, the barriers that low-income and disabled families face in accessing social services, the complexities in proving a child’s Supplemental Security Income case, and more than a few law-related topics, including legal analysis, Social Security disability law, and legal writing.

It requires them to participate in a practicum experience, and to write a policy paper and a legal brief for a client, which may be submitted to an administrative judge with the permission of the child’s parent or guardian.

“This has definitely introduced me to the intricacies of the American judicial system, that’s for sure,” said Hanna. “It will be a big help for me in law school.”

The class was born earlier this year when Conn contacted Jill Tiefenthaler, director of the Upstate Institute and associate dean of the faculty, about collaborating with Colgate on a project.

Conn, who lives about 20 miles from Hamilton, had heard of the work that students were doing in the community through Upstate Institute-sponsored programs, and thought that a legal course with a service-learning component would benefit aspiring lawyers.

Having recently retired as a managing attorney after 22 years of working for Legal Aid, Conn also knew the nonprofit, which has endured numerous funding cuts over the years, would welcome the extra help.

So she and Tiefenthaler worked on the syllabus and outline for what became the Upstate Law Project, and obtained all of the necessary approvals for the class.

“Its purpose is to give students an opportunity to investigate a legal career and expose them to different opportunities in the field,” explained Tiefenthaler. “Plus, it helps them develop some writing skills that are critical to success in law school.”

Fifteen undergraduates vied for the five available spots in the course, according to Tiefenthaler.

The course began in September and the students spent Monday or Thursday afternoons during the month of October at Legal Aid’s offices in Utica, where they learned the ins and outs of a law organization and observed Conn at work.

The remaining on-campus meetings of the Upstate Law Project will be devoted to refining briefs and policy papers and making presentations.

“Out of all of the students we’ve had over the years at this office, these have been probably the most well-mannered, well-dressed, and professional,” said Maria Gregorka, an executive assistant at Legal Aid for more than 20 years. She noted that Legal Aid routinely attracts volunteers from law schools and college paralegal programs.

Executive Director Robert Salzman agreed, and added that he looks forward to meeting a new batch of Colgate students next semester.

“We’ve been absolutely delighted Susan started this program,” he said. “It’s been beneficial for everyone involved — Legal Aid, the students, and the clients.”

As for the undergraduates themselves, they couldn’t be happier; the organization’s offices were as much a classroom to them as any space on campus.

“I would say that the Law Project has given me the chance to practice and apply what I’ve learned at Colgate,” said Martin, who plans to enroll in law school in the fall.

Arnoff was a bit more retrospective. “I’ve been able to see the human side of law, which you definitely can’t get reading books or articles.”

What is perhaps most telling about the experience for the students, said Tiefenthaler, is that all five plan to continue working with Legal Aid as volunteers in the spring.