Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Clinics
General Information
- What is a Clinic? How is it different from Trial Advocacy or an Externship?
A clinic is a law school course in which students are trained by law school faculty, and then represent real clients and handle real case under faculty supervision. In Trial Advocacy the clients and cases are simulated. Many externships primarily involve research and writing; they less often involve working with real clients and cases. An externship supervisor's primary focus is necessarily case work, clinic faculty are paid to teach and work closely with students. - How will I be able to competently represent a "real" client or handle a real project?
During each clinic, students receive intensive training to prepare them to handle their cases and clients. Students are taught the law, procedure and practice skills necessary to succeed in their cases. Students practice skills in mock interviews, mediations, hearings and trials before they see their first client. - How do clients react to having law students do their legal work?
Most clients are very appreciative. Their clinic student interns may well be the only access the client has to legal representation. - Does taking a clinic satisfy my Public Service requirement?
Yes! Complete a clinic and your public service requirement has been fulfilled.
- If I take a clinic does that mean I can't do an externship?
Absolutely not! Clinic credits do not count against externship credits. Students can take a clinic (or two) and still do 15 credits of externship work.
- How are clinics graded?
The clinics are “graded” on a pass/fail credit/no credit basis. When you are doing clinic legal work, just passing is not good enough. All students are expected to perform at a very high level. LL.M. Students in the Federal Tax Clinic receive a numerical grade.
Clinics and Academic Scheduling
Please see the How to Register and Schedule and Eligibility pages for more detailed information.
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How big of a time commitment is a clinic?
Taking a clinic is a serious time commitment. Real people’s lives will be at stake in the case you will be handling. Clinic credits are roughly based on a ratio of 3 hours per week for each credit hour. E.g., In a 4 credit clinic you would be expected to commit 12 hours of time that would include class time. - While in a clinic can I also work, be on law review, be in a second clinic, and/or have a life?
Some students have done all these things at once and been successful in a clinic. We don’t recommend a schedule like that. Combining a clinic with one other activity, law review or a second job is clearly doable. Many students do both. Bottom line, no matter what your schedule is, clinic client work must get first priority. - Can I take more than one clinic while in law school? What's the Bob Scales Record?
Yes, you may take more than one clinic. In fact students often take a second clinic to try out different practice areas while in law school. Bob Scales holds the record of four clinics, but we rarely have that many openings for students who have already taken a clinic. - How do I deal with the fact that some required courses are only offered at times that conflict with a clinic I want?
The administration works very hard to minimize conflicts between clinic courses and required courses. To avoid conflicts most clinic classes are held in the late afternoon. If your desired clinic presents a schedule conflict, talk it over with your clinic faculty member, for many times there are ways to work around a conflict.
- Are there any clinics offered in the summer time?
No. During the summer clinic faculty oversee the cases, prepare their class for the next year and engage in research and writing. The clinics hire summer interns to help with the cases over the summer. We welcome applications. The pay is $15/hour/40 hours/week and work-study students are given preference. - If a clinic runs for more than one quarter can I enroll for part of it? What if I'm a 3L graduating early?
All of our clinic courses run over more than one quarter, because the clinics' cases last longer than a quarter and we try to have students handle cases from beginning to end. General policy is that students must enroll in and complete all quarters of a clinic to receive clinic credit. 3Ls who have declared that they are graduating early are allowed to take a clinic for fewer than all quarters, but only on an overload basis with prior written permission of the clinic faculty supervisor.
Applying to a Clinic
Please see the How to Register and Schedule and Eligibility pages for more detailed information.
- Are there pre-requisites for the clinics and is it better to take a clinic as a 2L or 3L?
Some clinics do have pre- or co-requisites. These are shown on the schedule. The Immigration, Children and Youth Advocacy, Federal Tax and Technology Law and Public Policy Clinics each have a course that is either a pre- or co-requisite. The 2L vs. 3L question is really a matter of personal choice. Some students are eager to get a sense of practice and take a clinic as a 2L before doing an externship or clerking for a court or a firm. Other students want to save taking a clinic for their third year after they have done more course work. Since many clinics are on lottery, many 2L register for a clinic to get “two bites” in the lottery for a clinic they really want to take.
- Is it true it is impossible to get into a clinic?
Absolutely not! Even if you are not selected for a clinic initially do not despair. Turnover is common. Students selected for a clinic regularly change their minds for a clerkship, job, etc. If you really want to be in a clinic you need to be politely pushy. If you don’t get into a clinic initially let the faculty member know you are still very interested. Make sure you are on the waiting list. Check with Academic Services regularly to see where you are on the waitlist. At the beginning of the term remind the faculty member of your interest. Show up for the first day of class. At that point, faculty are permitted to take anyone in the room if there are openings.
- How does the selection process work?
Each of the clinics has its own selection process which may be solely lottery, solely by application or a mixture of the two. Don’t be intimidated by clinics asking for an application. The applications are quite short and allow you to explain why this particular clinic experience is especially important for your legal education. The pre-registration packet you will be receiving will list each clinic and describe its selection process. The registration screen will prompt you to fill out an application if one is required. - What do I have to do to sign up for a clinic?
Carefully read the pre-registration packet and follow the instructions. If an application is required be a strong advocate for yourself.
- When will I know if I got in and what will the next steps be?
You will know in early May whether you got into a clinic or not. Those selected will have until June. Between May 4 and June 2 many of the clinics will hold required meetings with selected and waitlist students to share further information, answer questions and obtain commitments IN BLOOD.