Robins Kaplan Civil Practice Clinic Helps Client Get Unemployment Benefits

When Rasheed Ogunmade met 2L Bethany Anderson, he was in dire straits. His employer, a local printing company, had terminated his employment and was contesting unemployment benefits. A Nigerian immigrant and father of four, Ogunmade had represented himself at the initial hearing and lost. He now lacked money to support his family and faced imminent eviction from his apartment.

Seeking pro bono legal representation for his unemployment insurance (UI) appeal, Ogunmade was referred to the Law School’s Robins Kaplan Civil Practice Clinic. The case was assigned to Anderson, a student attorney at the clinic.

Ogunmade says he had no idea what to expect when he first came to the clinic, but Anderson immediately put him at ease. “Ms. Bethany was very kind, very, very nice,” he says. “I had just lost my job. That is the way I feed my family. I was in a bad situation. She told me don’t worry, this is what we are going to do. She helped me through it.” The bond was sealed when he discovered that his student attorney had not only visited his native land of Nigeria, but also shared his love of some of its cuisine.

Minnesota Law Clinic Successes
Ogunmade retained Anderson and the clinic to represent him. The next step was to schedule a telephone hearing with an administrative law judge.

“I prepared questions for Mr. Ogunmade, and questions for the employer in case they showed up to the phone hearing,” says Anderson. “The judge called us, and asked Mr. Ogunmade a bunch of questions. I followed up with some questions, and made a closing statement to the judge.”

The crux of Ogunmade’s testimony was that he had a solid attendance and performance record over his three years with the company and that he had committed no misconduct that would disqualify him from benefits. The employer did not appear at the phone hearing, and offered little written documentation to support denial benefits.

The day after the hearing, the judge issued a ruling granting Ogunmade his much-needed benefits. “It did not even take too long—that is what surprised me,” Ogunmade says. “God is great. I am very grateful to the clinic and Ms. Bethany for their help.”

This story highlights just one of the many ways in which our 25 clinics are helping everyday people get access to justice every day. Learn more about Minnesota Law’s clinical program.

-- By Mark A. Cohen