 Students enrolled in the Civil Justice Clinic represent clients in civil disputes and administrative proceedings with faculty supervision. The Civil Justice Clinic handles the following types of civil cases: Preventing and Combating Fraudulent Schemes Against Homeowners, Tenants' Rights, Housing Appeals, Fraudulent Rent-to-Own Housing Schemes, Predatory Mortgage Lending Cases and Unemployment Insurance Claims. Students are responsible for handling all aspects of civil and administrative practice, including: representing clients in contested administrative hearings; drafting pleadings, motions and appellate briefs; interviewing and counseling clients; conducting discovery in civil litigation; representing clients in trials, arbitrations and mediations; and at times presenting oral argument in Arizona appellate courts and the Ninth Circuit.
The Civil Justice Clinic is a graded course (6 credits), with grading based on a number of established criteria, including diligence and thoroughness in representing clients, and classroom participation. Students are expected to spend approximately 300 hours in the Clinic during the semester. Because the summer session is condensed, students should not plan on working another job during the summer semester. As a general guideline, students are expected to work 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, and 30 hours per week during the  summer semester.
The Civil Justice Clinic includes a mandatory seminar that focuses on simulation exercises in such areas as: courtroom advocacy, interviewing, client counseling, fact investigation, civil discovery, and negotiation. Staffing meetings are held on Friday mornings, during which time potential cases are discussed and either accepted or declined by the law firm.
Evidence is a prerequisite for the summer semester and is a co-requisite in the fall and spring semesters. Enrollment during the summer session is limited to four (4) students.
Civil Justice Clinic Grading Criteria
Application for Spring 2010
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