Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Live Client Clinics

In all of the live client clinics, students, receiving guidance and supervision from a full-time faculty member who is a member of the Florida Bar, represent indigent clients who are referred from various agencies. In order to learn both the substantive law regarding the particular legal issue and about skills necessary for client representation, each live client clinic has a classroom component that meets three to four hours a week at a scheduled time. The classes also provide an opportunity for discussion and reflection. The clinical suite (our law office) provides space for students to work on cases, a library for research and rooms for students to interview and counsel clients, interview witnesses or meet with other parties.

Students may enroll in a live client clinic for either four or five graded credit hours. Each credit hour requires 55 hours of work, which includes time spent in and preparing for classes. For enrollment requirements, please see enrollment requirements link.

Family and Child Advocacy Clinic

Under the supervision of Professor Rebekah Gleason, students in the Family and Child Advocacy Clinic represent parents and children in special education cases and disciplinary proceedings within the public school system. In the family arena, students represent clients in marriage dissolution, uncontested custody petitions, adoption and guardianship proceedings and appeals from denials of SSI and other public benefits. Students gain experience in every phase of representation including the initial client interview, case development, drafting letters and pleadings, discovery, negotiation and appearances in court and at administrative hearings.

Juvenile Law Clinic

Under the supervision of Professor Cynthia Irvin, students in the Juvenile Law Clinic represent children in delinquency cases (children being prosecuted for violations of the law) dependency cases (abuse, neglect and abandonment) family law cases (child custody, support and paternity) school matters (truancy, discipline, enrollment) emancipations, record sealings and expungements and other matters pertaining to juveniles and their families involved in the legal system. Students gain experience in interviewing and counseling clients, drafting motions, interviewing witnesses and other discovery, case planning, negotiating and participating in court hearings and trials.

Consumer Law Clinic

Under the supervision of Professor Laura Boeckman, students in the Consumer Law Clinic represent consumers with issues involving mortgage foreclosure, debt collection harassment, correcting errors on credit reports and other consumer-related issues. Many of the clients are victims of predatory lending, a practice whereby lenders target low income or minority consumers with highly unfavorable terms in loan agreements. The clinic provides students with the opportunity to interview clients, draft letters, pleadings and motions, argue motions in small claims, county and circuit court, participate in discovery including depositions and engage in many aspects of settlement negotiation.

Immigration Law Clinic

Under the supervision of Professor Ericka Curran, students in the Immigration Law Clinic are involved with both direct legal services to non-citizens as well as legal advocacy projects. Legal services provided include the preparation of asylum petitions, family unity applications and petitions, applications for naturalization and applications for relief under the Violence Against Women Act and the Victim of Trafficking and Violent Crime Prevention Act. Students gain experience in interviewing and counseling clients, conducting fact investigation, developing case theory, interviewing witnesses, writing declarations and submitting briefs.