The Law School has an extensive clinical education program that provides opportunities for students to integrate substantive law, theory, strategy and skills by working on legal issues in real world settings. The goal of these experience-based courses is to build a bridge between the classroom and the practice of law. There are fifteen clinics covering a range of legal issues, and seven internship courses in non-profit organizations, the legislature, government agencies, and courts.
Clinical courses are valuable both to students interested in litigation and to those interested in transactional practice. The intensive nature of clinical work helps develop analytical and advocacy skills, and offers hands-on experience in factual investigation, research and writing, case theory, problem solving, client relations and professional responsibility. Participating students gain useful work experience through regular interaction with attorneys, judges and other professionals. Students also often have the opportunity to assist needy clients and communities.
Students in clinics represent clients during the preparation, trial and appeal of cases in litigation or in law-related transactions and projects. Clinic students are closely supervised by faculty members. Interns work outside the law school under the close supervision of experienced attorneys or judges.
Students who have completed their first two semesters are eligible for all internship programs and for nine clinics: the Actual Innocence Clinic, the Capital Punishment Clinic, the Community Development Clinic, the Environmental Clinic, the Immigration Clinic, the Mediation Clinic, the National Security and Human Rights Clinic, the Supreme Court Clinic and the Transnational Worker Rights Clinic. The remaining clinics require that students have completed 43 credit hours. Some clinics and internships have pre-requisite or co-requisite requirements. Students must be in good standing to enroll in a clinic or internship. All clinics and internships require an application (available in the Student Affairs Office).
For more information contact Eden Harrington, Director of Clinical Programs, eharrington@law.utexas.edu, 232-7068.