Investor Rights Clinic

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Overview

The Investor Rights Clinic is the newest live-client clinic to join the Law School's practical program. The Clinic is a one-semester clinic staffed by second and third-year law students who represent under-served investors in securities arbitration claims against their brokers before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). FINRA is a self-regulatory organization that administers the largest forum for arbitration of securities claims in the United States. Arbitration is the most widely used means of resolving disputes in the securities industry.

Legal Assistance

The Clinic provides a resource to individuals of modest means who have suffered investment losses as a result of broker misconduct but, due to the size of their claim, cannot find legal representation. Under faculty supervision, law students provide legal assistance and advice to investors who may have claims involving misrepresentation, unsuitability, unauthorized trading, excessive trading (aka "churning"), and failure to supervise, among other claims. Students, in turn, gain valuable hands-on experience working on real cases, undertaking all aspects of client representation, including the intake, evaluation and prosecution of investor claims. The Clinic, which does not charge attorney's fees, is funded by a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, and the Law School.

Community Outreach

In addition, the Clinic conducts financial literacy and outreach programs designed to educate the public about how to detect and avoid fraudulent investment schemes and broker misconduct, with particular attention to schemes targeting the elderly and retirees. As part of their clinical work, every student intern participates in preparing and presenting at least one educational outreach seminar each semester at various locations throughout South Florida, including community and senior centers, investment clubs, high schools, and the Law School.

Clinic Director

Teresa J. Verges
305-284-8548
tverges@law.miami.edu

Supervising Attorney

Scott A. Eichhorn
305-284-8073
seichhorn@law.miami.edu

Support Staff

Sarah Cardone
305-284-9376
scardone@law.miami.edu