Course Description
601:794. CIVIL PRACTICE CLINIC (4) S
LE=8
Exclusions: No cross-registration with Externship without permission of instructor.
Special Note: In addition to the scheduled class meetings, students must be available at times other than the scheduled class hours to accommodate court appearances, meetings with clients, classmates, and supervising attorney. Meetings may be arranged at the student's convenience, but some scheduling flexibility is required.
The Civil Practice Clinic involves both client representation and a seminar component. Students provide representation in civil cases under the supervision of an attorney. Working with a student partner, all steps necessary for representation are undertaken, including interviewing and counseling clients, making strategic decisions, drafting documents and briefs, conducting negotiations and making all court appearances.
The course focuses on the skills necessary for client representation, ethical issues, and the roles of attorney and counselor. Students will be assigned to cases in a variety of practice areas including veteran’s benefits and discharge upgrades, consumer law, Social Security disability, landlord-tenant eviction actions, family law, and estate planning. Students engage in both affirmative and defensive litigation and provide preventive legal planning and client advice.