For Appalachian School of Law 3L Diego Karns, clinical legal education has become an important part of preparing for practice.
This fall, Karns serves as a student attorney in three separate legal clinics: the Medical-Legal Partnership, the Advanced Appellate Advocacy Clinic, and the West Virginia Public Defense Clinic. Through those opportunities, he utilizes student-practice certifications in Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Among the three, Karns says the Medical-Legal Partnership has provided him with the most extensive experience serving indigent clients throughout Tennessee and Virginia.
“As someone who plans to practice criminal defense after graduation, the MLP has also been invaluable in helping me become more comfortable and confident in developing meaningful attorney-client relationships, communicating with clients, and advocating for individuals who may be navigating some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives,” Karns said.
One experience from his time in the MLP has remained especially meaningful.
Last spring, while participating in the MLP as a 2L, Karns assisted a client whose electricity had been disconnected during a harsh Appalachian winter. By helping her understand available flexible payment options through Appalachian Power and advocating on her behalf, he was able to assist her in restoring service to her home.
The impact extended beyond resolving a utility issue. Restored electricity meant the ability to heat the home, prepare meals, and use the appliances and electronics necessary for everyday life.
The experience became even more significant when Karns learned that the client was the mother of three young children.
“What initially appeared to be a relatively straightforward utility matter quickly became a powerful reminder that effective legal advocacy can impact far more than a single client — it can improve the well-being and stability of an entire family,” he said. “This is the MLP’s purpose.”
Karns also credits the MLP with helping bridge the gap between learning legal principles in the classroom and learning how to communicate those principles effectively to clients.
“Law school teaches students how to understand and apply the law, but the traditional classroom does not always teach us how to explain that law to the people we serve,” he said. “The MLP has filled that gap exceptionally well.”
Through the program, Karns has been able to apply what he has learned in the classroom to real legal matters while developing the communication, empathy, and client-advocacy skills that will continue to shape his future practice.
The Appalachian School of Law Medical-Legal Partnership provides students with supervised, hands-on experience while helping address legal issues that can affect the health, stability, and well-being of individuals and families throughout the region.
Learn more about Appalachian School of Law’s Medical-Legal Partnership, its work, and the opportunities it provides ASL students at:
https://www.asl.edu/academic-
