What is a Clinic?
A Clinic is a course in which students learn essential lawyering skills by working on pending cases under the supervision of professors and clinical instructors. Students also learn by attending regular Clinic classes and supervisory sessions. In most Clinics, students are the primary advocates for their clients and work on all aspects of a case, including factual investigation, counseling, negotiation, research and writing, and appearing in court.
Who are Clinic clients and what kinds of cases do clinical students work on?
Each Clinic helps different types of clients. Typically, Clinic clients are members of the community who are low-income and who are not able to obtain representation elsewhere. Each Clinic handles different types of cases. Please see the individual Clinic descriptions for details.
What should students with disabilities do if they are interested in taking a Clinic?
Students with disabilities should speak with the Dean of Students if they are interested in taking a Clinic.
Are the Clinics for a semester or a year? How many credits are the Clinics?
Some clinics are only taken for one semester. Others require enrollment for the entire year. Please see the individual Clinic descriptions. Students receive three to six credits per semester depending on the Clinic. Please see the individual Clinic descriptions.
Who can apply for a Clinic? Can a student enroll in more than one Clinic?
Most clinics are open to both rising 2Ls and 3Ls. LLM students are also encouraged to apply. Pre- and Co-requisites vary for each Clinic. A student can enroll in more than one clinic; however, it is recommended that only one clinic be taken per semester due to the time requirements per clinic.
Can a student enroll in a Clinic while also working at an externship or on time-consuming extra-curricular activities?
There is no rule against this. Students must decide for themselves how much they can handle, keeping in mind that a Clinic is a serious time commitment.
Are there any restrictions working for certain employers while enrolled in a Clinic?
Students need to avoid creating conflicts of interest. Please discuss any potential conflicts of interest with the Clinic Director prior to acceptance of enrollment.
How likely is it that a student will be invited to enroll in a given Clinic? What happens to students who do not get into a Clinic?
Each Clinic decides what students to accept using a variety of criteria. The standard Clinic application asks for a resume, transcript, statement of interest, and language ability (preferred but not required). A student is invited to enroll depending on a number of factors, including the size of the Clinic, how many other students have applied, and the particulars of a student’s application. The Clinics vary in size from eight to twenty-four students. Students may be invited off the wait-list. Otherwise, students are free to apply again in a subsequent semester.
Are students who have been accepted into a Clinic able to change their minds?
Once a student has been invited to enroll into a Clinic, the student will be asked to accept the offer. A student may decline an invitation to enroll; however, once an offer has been accepted by the student that acceptance may not be withdrawn.
What is a summer Clinic?
A summer clinic is the same as a clinic during the regular academic year. The course is, however, six credits with 5 hours weekly of course time and 30-35 hours per week on clinic related work for an eight week summer course. Students are also required to attend a one hour supervision/case round meeting per week. No final exam required.
