Clinic Information for Students

Second- and third-year students obtain practical training through the Law School’s clinical and experiential programs, in which students represent clients and engage in other lawyering roles under the supervision of full time clinical teachers, faculty, and practicing attorneys. The Law School’s clinical and experiential programs give students an opportunity to learn litigation, legislative advocacy, and transactional skills. Students learn through classroom instruction, simulation, and representation of clients under the close supervision of the clinical teachers and attorneys. The program is intended to join the academic study of law with experience in interviewing clients, investigating facts, developing strategies, conducting negotiations, dealing with adverse parties, drafting legislation and lobbying legislators, drafting contracts, and participating in court proceedings.

Participation Rules

View participation rules in the Clinical & Experiential Programs portion of the Student Handbook.

Information for 1Ls

The Law School's clinical programs are available to second and third year students. During the Spring Quarter all 1L's will be invited to attend informational meetings at which the details of the clinical courses are discussed and current clinic students and faculty are available to answer questions. Notice of those meetings will be posted on this website and throughout the Law School. Detailed information about each of the clinical courses is also available on this website. Please read this information carefully since many of the clinical courses have pre- and co-requisites. First year students are also welcome to stop by the Arthur O. Kane Center for Clinical Legal Education to talk with clinic students and faculty about the clinical programs.

Students may enroll in the clinical programs in the same manner as they enroll in other classes and seminars. While the Law School is not able to guarantee that every student will be able to enroll in a clinical course, past experience suggests that most, if not all students will be able to participate in one of the clinical courses at some point in their Law School careers.

Clinic Summary

Below is a chart summarizing helpful information about the Law School’s various clinics. This is a summary only, and students must refer to the course description for each clinic for complete information. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between this summary chart and the course description, the course description will control. Students are also encouraged to contact the clinical faculty with questions about the clinics or recommended courses.

Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic
Clinic Standard # of Credits/Quarter # of Quarters Prerequisite Corequisite Recommended not Required Courses Year
Abrams Environmental Law 1 or 2 varies     Environmental Law, Energy Law, Administrative Law 2,3
Civil Rights Clinic: Police Accountability 1 or 2 varies   Must complete prior to 3L year: Evidence, Criminal Procedure I, Intensive Trial Practice Workshop Constitutional Law III 2,3
Criminal & Juvenile Justice Project 1 varies     Evidence, Criminal Procedure I, Juvenile Justice and Intensive Trial Practice Workshop 2,3
Employment Law 1 varies Evidence (for 3Ls)   Employment Discrimination, Intensive Trial Practice Workshop or Trial Advocacy 2,3
Federal Criminal Justice 2 or 3, with preference for 3 3   Evidence, Criminal Procedure I Federal Criminal Procedure, Federal Sentencing, Intensive Trial Practice Workshop 2, 3 with priority for 3Ls
Housing Initiative 1 varies       2,3
Immigrants' Rights Clinic 2 (3 with permission) 3     Immigration Law, Intensive Trial Practice Workshop 2,3
Global Human Rights see course description for requirements          
Additional Clinics
Clinic Standard # of Credits/Quarter # of Quarters Prerequisite Corequisite Recommended not Required Courses Year
Exoneration Project 1-3 varies   Evidence, Intensive Trial Practice Workshop Criminal Procedure I, Criminal Procedure II 2,3
Innovation 1 or 3 minimum of 2       2,3
Institute for Justice on Entrepreneurship 1-3 minimum of 2       2,3
Jenner & Block Supreme Court and Appellate 1-3 varies   U.S. Supreme Court: Theory and Practice Constitutional Law I and Constitutional Law III 2,3
Kirkland & Ellis Corporate Lab Transactional 3 2 or 3       2,3, LLM
Poverty & Housing Law 3 or 4 2 (Win/Spr)       2,3
Prosecution & Defense (offered in alternating years) 3 or 4 2 (Win/Spr)   Student is responsible for arranging an externship in an approved prosecution or public defender office Evidence 2,3