McGeorge School of Law graduates Katrina Syrakos ‘26 and Eden Bradshaw ‘26 received the Clinical Legal Education Association's Outstanding Clinic Team Award, a national recognition of their excellence in client representation, thoughtful participation in clinical education and outstanding collaboration. 

The award acknowledges the work that Syrakos and Bradshaw completed in McGeorge's Buccola Family Homeless Advocacy Clinic, where they represented clients experiencing or at risk of homelessness under the supervision of faculty. 

Associate Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Buccola Family Homeless Advocacy Clinic, Ron Hochbaum said the pair stood out with both the quality of their advocacy and their commitment to learning from every client interaction. 

"Katrina and Eden are two of the brightest, hard-working, and passionate students I have ever had the privilege of teaching," Hochbaum said. "This award is incredibly well-deserved. They have promising careers ahead of them." 

Hochbaum said Syrakos and Bradshaw excelled in the clinic with their  curiosity, compassion and a willingness to reflect on their experiences. 

"They worked hard and fully engaged in the reflective process to ensure that their practice experience yielded lawyering lessons," Hochbaum said. "Their passion helped ground me and remind me about why I continue to do this work despite all of its challenges." 

This accomplishment comes as people experiencing homelessness continue to face significant legal challenges.  

"We are coming up on the second anniversary of Grants Pass v. Johnson and our unhoused neighbors are being harassed and targeted by law enforcement every day," Hochbaum said. "Lawyers have a special role to play in combatting the misuse of criminal law to target discrete communities. It is my hope that McGeorge alumni everywhere follow Eden and Katrina's lead to answer the call." 

Bradshaw said the national recognition is meaningful because it reflects the work she and Syrakos were able to accomplish on behalf of their clients. 

"Receiving the Clinical Legal Education Association's Outstanding Clinic Team Award is an incredible honor and such a meaningful way to conclude my law school experience," Bradshaw said. "Being recognized on a national level is deeply rewarding, but what matters most to me is knowing that our work helped improve our clients' lives. I hope our clients are in a better position today than when we first met them, and that is the achievement I am most proud of." 

Bradshaw credited Hochbaum with creating an environment that challenged students while giving them the confidence to develop as future attorneys. 

"Professor Hochbaum trusted us to build meaningful relationships with our clients, while providing guidance whenever we needed it," Bradshaw said. "That balance of independence and support gave me confidence in my ability to practice law." 

Bradshaw also said the clinic changed the direction of her legal career. 

"I entered law school focused primarily on international law, but the clinic taught me first-hand the value of local advocacy," she said. "Sometimes the most meaningful work is helping someone right around the corner from you." 

Furthermore, she said the experience reshaped her understanding of the legal profession. 

"The BFHAC [Buccola Family Homeless Advocacy Clinic] has been the most rewarding experience of my law school career," Bradshaw said. "Through our work helping clients secure criminal record remedies, disability benefits and other forms of relief, I saw first-hand how legal advocacy can remove barriers to housing, employment, healthcare and economic stability. The clinic transformed my understanding of what it means to be a lawyer and reinforced my commitment to serving marginalized communities." 

In addition to BFHAC, McGeorge operates six other legal clinics in Sacramento, including the Bankruptcy Clinic, Elder and Health Law Clinic, Federal Defender Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic, Legislative and Public Policy Clinic, and Prisoner Civil Rights Mediation Clinic.