Civil Justice Clinic

 
  
Since 1969, the Civil Justice Clinic has educated law students through a combination of seminar work and client representation.  We provide ASU law students with the training, supervision, and field experience necessary to become effective lawyers.  We do so by undertaking projects that advance the public interest and provide quality representation to individuals who need pro bono representation and non-profit clients who need legislative lawyering services.

Beginning in Fall 2011, the Civil Justice Clinic will be divided into two units:  (1) the Homeowner Advocacy Unit; and (2) the Work-Life Policy Unit.  Students enrolled in the Homeowner Advocacy Unit work on civil disputes, administrative proceedings, legislative lawyering, and public education matters involving fraudulent schemes against homeowners and renters, foreclosure avoidance, predatory mortgage lending cases and related issues.  Students in the Work-Life Policy Unit work on civil disputes, administrative proceedings, legislative lawyering, and public education matters involving unemployment insurance benefits, leave, wage and hour, and discrimination claims. They also represent non-profit clients working on thoughtful public policy, such as the proper role of government in supporting the needs of employees, employers and the community in achieving greater access to flexible work arrangements, time off, career maintenance and other work-life issues. 

With faculty supervision, students are responsible for all aspects of representing Clinic clients, including:  case selection; interviewing and counseling clients; fact investigation; theory and advocacy strategy development; analyzing options for changing employment and housing law and policy; drafting demand letters, pleadings, motions, appellate briefs, settlements, and policy documents such as white papers, amicus briefs, analysis of pending legislation, comments to administrative agencies, or testimony; and representing clients in negotiations with other parties, administrative hearings or at oral arguments in appellate court.  

The Clinic also includes a mandatory seminar component that focuses on the relevant substantive law (such as laws relating to real estate lending, employment, supporting military families, consumer advocacy, and ADR) and training/simulations on relevant skills (such as legislative lawyering, courtroom advocacy, public speaking, fact investigation, interviewing, counseling, and negotiation).  Potential matters are usually discussed and accepted or declined during class meetings on Friday mornings.
 
Students are expected to spend approximately 300 hours in the Clinic during the semester, which is approximately 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and 30 hours per week during the summer semester.  The Clinic is a graded course (6 credits), based on established criteria, including diligence and thoroughness in representing clients, and classroom participation.

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