University of Utah : S.J. Quinney College of Law

Civil Clinic

Tags:access to justice clinic civil 

The Civil Clinic is designed to teach essential skills (interviewing, counseling, problem-analysis, negotiation) for the practice of law.  The class promotes reflection upon individual strengths and preferences in legal work.

Course: Lawyering Skills (3 cr., graded, Fall, Spring & Summer). This course teaches the theory and practice of interviewing and counseling (through readings, demonstrations, role-playing, and videotaped exercises) and introduces the problem-solving strategies of negotiation and advocacy.  The class also serves as a forum for students to reflect upon their live clinic experiences.  Grades are based upon videotaped performances and short reflective writing. Lawyering Skills should be taken concurrently with the placement or before the placement. 

• Fall 2009: Offered as a week-long, “Boot Camp” course, August 17^th-21^st (Monday-Friday) from 9:00 am-4:30 pm (with a lunch break from 12:00-1:30 pm) with Professor Linda F. Smith.
• Three videotaped exercises and reflection lunches will be scheduled September—November.
• Spring  2010: Offered as semester-long course during Spring Semester.
• Meets Skills requirement for graduation.

Placements (2 – 5 cr., P/F, Fall, Spring, & Summer): Students will apply and develop lawyering skills in representing their own clients at public interest law offices and with pro bono attorneys.  They interview & advise clients, develop strategies, and negotiate & advocate on their clients’ behalf in administrative & court hearings.  Placements include:

• American Civil Liberties Union—Civil liberties, may involve larger cases & more research, less client contact.
• Catholic Community Services—Immigration law for refugees who have asylum.  Wide range of cases.
• Disability Law Center—Address legal problems arising from a client’s disability.
• Guadalupe Clinic with Lauren Scholnick—Assist interviewing and counseling at Guadalupe Clinic (Tues. 5-7) and provide full pro bono representation thereafter.
• Guardian ad Litem—Represent children in Juvenile Court: abuse, neglect, parental termination cases & District Court: cohabitant abuse, divorce where abuse is alleged.
• Holy Cross Ministries—Immigration Law.  U-Visa cases: immigration status for victims of violent crimes, especially domestic violence. Spanish helpful.
• Immigration Court Clinic with Leonor Perretta—Assist to screen immigrants brought before the Court and counsel regarding possible defenses/voluntary departure.  Assist with pro bono cases.
• Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake—Family law: Includes divorce, custody, and domestic violence.
• Mentors for Moms with Lokken & Associates—Mentor and assist clients in the child protective system who are faced with losing (or have lost) physical custody of their children.
• Multicultural Legal Center—Immigration Law.  U-Visa cases: immigration status for victims of violent crimes, especially domestic violence. Spanish helpful.
• Salt Lake City Attorney’s Office—Assist in civil cases for the city. 
• St. Vincent Outreach with Jay Kessler—Homeless clients get brief advice and pro bono representation.
• Utah Legal Services—General poverty law: landlord-tenant, public benefits, consumer, elderly & wills, family.
• Utah Crime Victim’s Legal Clinic—Victims’ rights in criminal cases.

Students’ legal work may involve family problems, wills, public benefits, basic necessities, housing, immigration, individual rights or protection of the elderly or disabled.  Typically a student specializes in only one area of law during any one semester.

**Certain of the above placements are also available in conjunction with substantive courses as part of the Victims Clinic, Disability Clinic, Elder Law Clinic, Consumer Clinic, Family Law Practice Clinic, & Law Practice Clinic.**

Faculty: Professor Linda F. Smith

Registration & Placement: Students may enroll in the course online. Students must complete the Clinical Program Application and Placement Preference Form in order to indicate placement preferences and background.  Students will then be enrolled in the clinic.

Students who have previously taken the Lawyering Skills course may enroll in the placement component of the Civil Clinic in a subsequent semester.

LAW 7920-001: Lawyering Skills                              

   Fall: Aug. 17-21, 9:00am – 4:30pm & 6 scheduled meetings thereafter

   Spring:  Thursday & Friday, 9:10 – 10:35 am

LAW 7930-001: Civil Clinic                                       

   Fall or Spring (2 – 5 credits)

• Ethics (pdf)
• Global Methods and Requirements (pdf) 
• Guidelines (pdf)
• Placement Preference Form (pdf) 
• Proposed Schedule and Information Sheet (pdf) 
• Interim Report Form (pdf)
• Final Report Form (pdf)