Clea Hendricks

Clea Hendricks grew up outside of Washington, DC, raised by a family of social justice advocates. From a young age, she knew she wanted to use her career to have a positive impact on society. In high school, Clea became passionate about environmental justice, which led her to pursue a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. There, she worked with various community advocacy groups and conducted independent research for her honors thesis analyzing patterns of inequality in the distribution of environmental harms, while developing case studies of communities living on polluted land. Her experience in New Orleans witnessing the realities of those living in the industrial corridor known as Cancer Alley ultimately inspired her to study law.

At Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, Clea stayed true to this passion and continued to use her education to uplift marginalized voices, protect the health of people and the planet, and promote justice by holding corporations accountable. As President of the Environmental Law Society and Principal Articles Editor of the Loyola Interdisciplinary Journal of Public Interest Law, Clea led and mentored groups of likeminded law students passionate about using the law to help vulnerable people. She also competed in the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition and participated in Loyola’s Civil Rights Litigation Practicum, deepening her love of litigation. During law school, Clea worked at nonprofit advocacy organizations including Earthjustice, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Consumer Watchdog. These experiences solidified her desire to use the law to help people impacted by toxic exposures, leading her to Brayton Purcell.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

The most rewarding part of my work is advocating for people who have been harmed by corporations that prioritize profit over the health and safety of those using their products.

What are your hobbies and interests? What do you like to do when you're not working?

In my free time I enjoy cooking, going to farmers markets, hiking the Santa Monica Mountains, practicing hot yoga, SCUBA diving, and collecting houseplants.