2025 CLEA Awards for Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students: Drexel’s Alex White and Celine Dugan

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 Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law:

CLEA Outstanding Clinic Student: Alex White 

Diligent and prepared, Alex deliberately tackled challenging projects and demanding clients. She excelled at maintaining clear communication, proactively resolving complex issues, and rarely required assistance. Her leadership and readiness stood out. Alex frequently volunteered to support classmates, consistently elevating the group’s overall performance. She broadened her expertise across diverse legal fields, swiftly mastering business organizations, tax, securities, immigration, intellectual property, and employment law. Alex expertly drafted complex contracts and skillfully provided clear, practical solutions to clients. Alex’s one-on-one meetings demonstrated exceptional preparation and insight rarely seen in a law student. She embodies excellence, professionalism, and intellectual curiosity. Given my experience with Alex, I cannot more highly recommend a student for CLEA and internal clinical graduation awards.  

CLEA Outstanding Externship Student Award: Celine Dugan

Celine Dugan completed a co-op at the US Attorney’s Office, Civil Division in the fall semester of her 3L year. She received an excellent review from her supervisor during the formal evaluation process. The law school also received unsolicited feedback from several attorneys in the office about her outstanding performance.

Celine’s direct report supervisor spotlighted her work on a deposition that she handled for the office. Celine conducted the deposition of a represented third-party fact witness in a Federal Tort Claims Act/Bivens action involving an alleged sexual assault at a TSA checkpoint at the Philadelphia International Airport. Celine was well prepared, composed, and delivered a strong performance with a less than friendly witness.