2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Pepperdine’s Caelan Fraschetti and Gabrielle Poremba

Each year, the Clinical Legal Education Association invites law schools to nominate students as their Outstanding Clinic Student or Team and Outstanding Externship student. This series includes submissions from law schools celebrating their outstanding students. 

From Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law:

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student: Caelan Fraschetti:

Caelan Fraschetti participated in several clinics during his tenure at Caruso Law, and he excelled time and again. In the Community Justice Clinic, Caelan offered smart, useful advice to a nonprofit client serving children in foster care and vital research for a global NGO combating human trafficking. In the Restoration and Justice Clinic, Caelan helped a trafficked, transgender client vacate (expunge and seal) her criminal record and a male victim seek a domestic violence restraining order. Caelan also served clients in the Legal Aid Clinic. In all his work, Caelan demonstrates excellence, compassion, deep reflection, and a heart for justice.

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student: Gabrielle Poremba:

Gabi completed an externship at the Department of Justice, where she received outstanding reviews from her supervisor for her excellent work product, diligent work ethic, and enthusiastic commitment to growing over the course of the semester.  She was a true asset and provided excellent assistance to the attorneys in her office.  In the seminar, Gabi was a shining example to the class.  She shared thoughtful insights about both her work and the concerns raised by other students, and was the catalyst for important conversations about working in the federal government during a time of deep political strife.  Her astute reflections about the impact of that environment demonstrated profound self-awareness and the highest ethical standards.  Her decision to share that experience tremendously enriched the seminar experience for the class.  Gabi’s maturity, ethical compass, and commitment to professionalism are exemplary.