Clinical Programs
The University of Chicago Law School is home to four highly-regarded legal clinics: the Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, the Immigrant Childrens Advocacy Project, the Exoneration Project and the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship. These clinical programs are located in the School's Arthur O. Kane Center for Clinical Legal Education. The Law School was a pioneer in clinical legal education, having opened the very first legal clinic associated with a law school. That clinic, the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, continues to serve the people of the city of Chicago to this day, and the Law School is proud to have grown to eight projects within that clinic and added additional clinics to ensure both the growth of community service and in practical education at the Law School.
Information for Students
In the second and third years, students have the opportunity to learn litigation, legislative advocacy and transactional skills through the School's clinical education program. Students learn through classroom instruction, simulation and representation of clients under the close supervision of the clinical teachers. Students represent clients through all three of the clinics. Participation in the School's clinical education program requires enrollment in one of the clinical courses.
Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic
One of the earliest law school-affiliated legal clinics, the Mandel Clinic comprises a number of projects intended to teach students effective advocacy skills while serving as advocates for people typically denied access to justice. Current Mandel projects include:
The Exoneration Project
The Exoneration Project represents clients who have been convicted of crimes of which they are innocent. The Project assists clients in asserting their claims of actual innocence in state and federal court.
Immigrant Child Advocacy Center
The Immigrant Children's Advocacy Project is a human service and policy advocacy program dedicated to advocating for the best interests of immigrant and refugee children who are alone in the United States.
Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship
The Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship, or IJ Clinic, is a public interest organization devoted principally to expanding economic liberties. It provides a range of legal services, especially those for start-up businesses, to local entrepreneurs in economically disadvantaged communities.
