Selection Criteria of Clinics Choosing Students by Application

CHILDREN AND YOUTH ADVOCACY CLINIC:

This Clinic involves the representation of adolescents in a variety of contexts, including educational advocacy, family law, emancipation, public-benefits, at-risk youth, immigration, and Child in Need of Services petitions.  

Because many of these cases involve court appearances, Rule 9 eligible 3Ls will receive preference in selection. Educational advocacy, immigration and public benefits cases do not require Rule 9 eligibility; therefore, 2Ls, if selected for this Clinic, will work in these fields. 

All slots are filled by application—no slots are filled by lottery. An application is required and student resume is optional.

CRIMINAL PROSECUTION CLINIC:

Operated in collaboration with the King Co. Prosecutor's Office and UW Law's Trial Advocacy Program, this Clinic will provide students the opportunity to prosecute misdemeanors in the King Co. District Court. Interviewing, fact-gathering, discovery, negotiation, brief writing, pre-trial hearings and motions as well as trials will be included in the student experience.

  1. Qualification for Rule 9 admission (by Autumn Quarter 2013) is required;
  2. You must have taken the prerequisite courses before Winter Quarter 2014;
  3. Strong trial advocacy skills demonstrated by performance in trial advocacy courses or moot court.

ENTREPRENEURIAL LAW CLINIC:

Preference with regard to selection for enrollment in each track is given to students with advanced courses beyond the prerequisite in the subject area. The prerequisites for each track are:

  1. Business Law Track: Closely Held Business Organizations (A567) OR Business Organizations (A515) OR The Law of Nonprofit Corporations (E514).
  2. IP Track: IP Survey (P567) OR IP Law Core (P501)
  3. Tax Track: Advising Privately-Owned Businesses (T525) OR Taxation of Corps, Partnerships & LLCs (A537) OR Exempt Organizations (T512)

IMMIGRATION LAW CLINIC:

This Clinic represents immigrants facing removal or seeking asylum and provides the opportunity to represent clients in two cases during the two-quarter enrollment term.

Even if you are not planning a career in the field of immigration law, do not hesitate to apply to the Clinic; professional skills that will be developed include client interviewing, investigating facts, research, writing declarations and briefs, direct and cross examinations and closings in Immigration Court hearings.

Criteria for filling Clinic slots are:

  1. Your class is 3L (2013-14 academic year) and you have not taken a clinic;
  2. You ranked the Immigration Law Clinic #1 in priority on your online "Clinic Request" form during preregistration;
  3. Your enrollment will contribute to a balanced mix of backgrounds and experience in the Clinic.

INNOCENCE PROJECT NORTHWEST CLINIC:

Note from IPNW Clinic Director, Jackie McMurtrie:

I use the application process to acknowledge students' contributions to the IPNW Student chapter. When I used the lottery system, several students who had given substantial amounts of time to the IPNW Student chapter did not get a slot in the Clinic. I switched to an application process the following year. I seek a mix of people with different backgrounds and experience. Don't hesitate to apply to the Clinic even if you are not planning a career in criminal law.

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CLINIC:

This Clinic consists of the Children & Youth Advocacy (CAYLAC) and Innocence Project Northwest (IPNW) tracks. Students select one of the two on their applications.

  1. Graduating year (preference to 3Ls)
  2. Previous Clinic experience (preference to none)
  3. History of involvement with child and family issues (preference to yes - CAYLAC track only)
  4. History of policy work (not necessary, but a plus factor)
  5. Connection between policy work and professed career goals
  6. Enrollment in classes related to this area (Juvenile Justice, Child Advocacy - CAYLAC track only)
  7. Criminal justice system or IPNW Student Chapter experience preferred but not required (IPNW track only)

MEDIATION CLINIC (2L applicants only):

Up to two of the eight Mediation Clinic spaces may be reserved for 2Ls who have demonstrated:

  1. An interest in mediation or ADR through prior experience or a demonstrated career plan,
  2. An interest in participating in Advanced Clinic work in mediation or mediation externships.

TECHNOLOGY LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY CLINIC:

The Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic enrolls up to twelve students per academic year (please be aware that for purposes of continuity in policy making selected students are strongly urged to participate in the clinic for all three quarters).

If JD student applications exceed available slots, preference shall be given to third year students and the remaining slots will be filled by lottery. To be considered for the Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic, all students must answer questions on the application form. No resumes are accepted. Face-to-face or telephone interviews with applicants may be held.

TOOLS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: RACE AND JUSTICE CLINIC:

This Clinic will develop and require creativity and a broad array of skills—so diversity of thought and perspectives will be sought. Preference is given to students who have taken the recommended courses and who have an interest and commitment to using the law to further social change. An interest in youth is also a plus.

TRIBAL COURT PUBLIC DEFENSE CLINIC (2L applicants only):

Acceptance into the clinic will be based on the following priority categories:

1st priority -- 3Ls with no prior clinic experience who select TCPDC as their first clinic choice on the online Clinic Requests Form. The TCPDC will admit all 3L applicants who are in this category up to the maximum enrollment. If 1st Priority applicants exceed the total enrollment space, all slots will be filled with 1st priority applicants by lottery.

2nd priority -- 2Ls who select TCPDC as their first clinic choice on the online Clinic Requests Form--selection will be based on space available. Historically, more 2Ls have applied than there are spaces available. Therefore, selections and waiting lists will be based on responses to the questions in the TCPDC application form and a mandatory student resume.

PLEASE NOTE: Participation in all three quarters is required and all students will be required to acknowledge in writing that they will participate in all three quarters of the Clinic or be ineligible to receive any credit for Fall and Winter quarters.

Last updated 4/3/2013