Widener University Commonwealth Law School marked a milestone on April 22 with the official celebration and open house of the newly relocated Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic. The clinic, which now resides in the administration building at 3737 Vartan Way, brings its mission of service and hands-on legal education directly into the heart of campus.
The event drew alumni, faculty, students, and supporters of the clinic who gathered to recognize its ongoing impact and new home.
Dean andré douglas pond cummings welcomed attendees with heartfelt remarks, expressing gratitude for the clinic community.
“I wanted to take a moment to welcome everyone to the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic and say how grateful I am you’re here tonight,” he said. “To those of you who are alumni of the clinic, we’re delighted to have you back.”
cummings credited Associate Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic Mary Catherine Scott and Assistant Clinical Professor of Law Rebecca Waldemar for their leadership and dedication to the clinic’s operations and its move.
“When we first discussed the idea of relocating the clinic to campus, I asked Mary Catherine and Rebecca what they thought. Their support was immediate,” he said. “What happens within these walls is extraordinary. The work we do to represent people—often those who have been harmed or don’t have the means—is some of the most important work we do.”
The new clinic space is intended to be permanent and protected. “For those who are not clinic students or clinicians, this room is now off-limits,” he added with a smile. “It’s no longer a place to print or hold classes. This is clinic space—and sacred space.”
Scott followed the dean’s remarks by emphasizing the lasting lessons students gain from their clinic experience.
“It’s not just what happens in these walls—it’s what happens outside of them too,” Scott said. “Just recently, we took students to a high-rise downtown so we could bring our services to the Harrisburg community. It meant a lot to them—both the students and the clients. These are lessons that our law students will carry forward into their practice.”
That real-world impact is something second-year law student Gianna Ianni has experienced firsthand. “What drew me to participate in the clinic was that I knew this was an opportunity for me to venture outside the theoretical world of law school,” Ianni said. “I learned a myriad of additional legal skills to address real-life situations.”
She also worked in both the clinic’s old and new locations—making her part of a unique cohort with perspective on the transition.
“I think the most meaningful part about this move is the fact that we are now on campus. It provides more exposure for other students to the clinic, and hopefully it inspires them to become a certified legal intern,” Ianni said. “The new office space allows for much more collaboration between the students. Previously, the cubicles in the old space gave somewhat more of a corporate feel, where now it feels as if we are all one team, working together to achieve each our individual clients' goals.”
One experience especially stood out to her—a simple moment with profound impact.
“I had just executed estate documents for an elderly client, and he was so grateful that he asked to hug me and proceeded to wish me the best in all of my future endeavors,” she recalled. “It opened my eyes to how the services we provide genuinely help the community. Clients are so thankful just to have someone hear their concerns and address them.”
She noted that the move wasn’t just physical—it reflected the evolving role of the clinic and its students. “Working at the clinic exposed me to the pivotal role that lawyers can play in serving vulnerable communities,” Ianni said. “There are many kinks in real-life practice that have to be worked out, and many of them are time sensitive. A large part of legal work is about empowering and assisting clients in a meaningful way; I think the new space provides a more welcoming environment for our clients and allows for greater connection with them.”
Scott also noted that the current class of clinic students holds a unique place in history.
“You are the only class that will have worked in both locations,” she said. “And in the words of one student I overheard—the move has been ‘incredible.’ We’ll take that as doctrine.”
Before closing the remarks, Scott introduced a special guest—Judy Hancock, the clinic’s first secretary, who served from its founding in 1994 through 2010.
“So many of the photos and collages you see around the clinic are thanks to Judy,” Scott said. “She was instrumental in running the clinic for many years, and we’re so glad she could join us.”
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