Ava Hargett
Loyola Project for the Innocent
The Loyola Project for the Innocent (LPI) is grateful to have had Ava Hargett in our clinic for two academic years and one full summer. Her enthusiasm, proactive approach to difficult assignments, and tenacity in investigating wrongful convictions set her apart. Just as important, Ava is a natural leader who motivates and guides her peers toward important case goals. One example: Without prompting or direction from LPI staff, she took it upon herself to mentor LPI’s summertime undergraduate and high school clinical interns, thereby enabling them to better understand their tasks while inspiring them with the importance of our work. She is also an excellent writer who contributed to an amicus brief and tackled other written assignments with the skill and precision of a practicing attorney. Her incredible ability to engage interviewees matches her legal ability. That made her a critical asset in interviewing witnesses and developing facts to help free Ernest Cox, who was wrongfully imprisoned for more than 40 years. Finally, Ava remains unshakably positive in the face of adversity and approaches even the most tedious tasks with enthusiasm. In short, Ava embodies Loyola Law School’s mission of tethering a quality legal education to a deep concern for social justice.