6, 4, or 3 Credits (Clinic)
This one-semester clinic course serves as an introduction to civil litigation. Students attend a 2-hour weekly class and spend up to 16 hours per week (8 hours or 5 hours, respectively, for the 4- or 3-credit version open to students in part-time academic programs only) working on civil cases through the Clinical Law Office or other legal services offices, such as Greater Boston Legal Services.
Experience
Law students represent clients under Rule 3:03 of the Supreme Judicial Court (the student practice rule) and assume responsibility for all phases of each case they handle. Students meet on a weekly basis with their assigned clinic supervisor to discuss progress and strategy on their cases, and they are responsible for handling cases until the end of the examination period. The major objective of the clinic is to develop a conceptual framework within which students can understand and evaluate their own experience in legal practice, both during the course and in future practice.
The skills studied include client interviewing, case planning, investigation/discovery, client counseling, negotiation, argument, and the presentation of evidence. In addition to providing the opportunity to develop skills, the clinic examines institutional and ethical problems that arise in the student's practice. Written work includes short papers and an examination. This course also satisfies New England Law’s Experiential Education Requirement.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this clinic because I had a lot of client interaction, I was able to speak directly with opposing counsel, and I was able to draft a parenting time agreement. I used many of the skills I learned during this clinic in the remainder of my clinical experiences.” —Bria Lewis '18