CLINICAL PROGRAMS                

Our outstanding clinical law programs offer students opportunities to learn about the real practice of law while providing essential services to a population that is largely underserved by the legal profession. Students also benefit from the instruction of faculty members who are themselves dedicated and experienced legal practitioners. For many, participation in a clinic is the turning point in their education, when they realize what it means to represent people who need their help.

Students are certified to practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:03; a certification which allows them to represent clients without compensation in both civil and criminal cases. Clinics do more than teach students where to stand in a courtroom. They enable tomorrow’s legal professionals to acquire—and practice—the skills and knowledge they need to serve clients in a productive, responsible, and successful way.

All clinics meet the following eligibility, general requirements and deadlines described below.

ELIGIBILITY

• Students in their last two years are eligible for the Civil Clinics and the Juvenile Clinic.  However, third-year day students and fourth-year evening students will be given preference if they have not yet taken a full-year clinical program.  Only students in their final year are eligible for the Defenders and the Prosecutors Program. 

• Students must be in good academic standing to apply or participate.

• Participation in a clinic is subject to an employment conflict check.  This is reviewed at the time of application and at the start of the fall semester.  Students will not be able to engage in employment which may conflict with the clinic enrolled in.

• Inquiries regarding independent Internships should be directed to Bernadette Feeley, Assistant Clinical Professor, Internship Program.  Professor Feeley’s office is located on the 1st Flr. (617/573-8049).

GENERAL CLINIC REQUIREMENTS

1.           Applicants must either have successfully completed or be concurrently enrolled in Evidence to participate.  This is a lottery selection process.  Individual clinics may give preference to students with relevant foreign language fluency or those who have completed other relevant courses.

2.           Students must commit themselves to serve in the full-year clinics for both semesters; partial credit is not available for a student who withdraws after one semester.  A grade and credit is given at the end of the academic year.

3.           Students must be willing to commit to a minimum average of 15 hours per week including two hours of class, though actual weekly hours will vary at times during the year.  (*Please note:  Evening Landlord Clinic has different credit requirements.)

4.           No student may be enrolled in more than one clinical program in any semester nor receive more than 12 clinical credits during his or her law school career.  An internship is considered a clinic.

5.           Every student must be in good academic standing as provided by the law school catalogue/student handbook at the beginning of the clinical program in order to be certified to appear in court. Enrolled students names are submitted to the Dean's Office by the Clinical Programs Office to be certified under S.J.C. Rule 3:03.

6.           Students should not take more than 15 total credits (an overload) during any semester in which they participate in a clinic.  The Deans’ Office will presumptively reject overload petitions of clinical students.

7.           Please review the additional requirements applicable to specific clinics below.

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Check with individual Clinical Professors/Clinical course descriptions regarding grading preference.   Clinics are graded under the same policy as other law school courses.

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APPLICATION DEADLINES

Applications are available for the fall semester are available prior to early registration sometime the end of February.  Late applications are accepted but will not be part of the selection process until all applications submitted on time have been considered. Email and/or faxed applications are not accepted.  The selection process is done by lottery.  The results of are mailed prior to early registration.