Clinical Programs

Clinical experience is a key ingredient of the legal education available at the Law School. Recognized as one of the best programs in the country, for 30 years we have offered a wide variety of clinical programs that take advantage of our faculty's unique experience and our students' interests. Clinics provide practice opportunities and course credit at the same time. Students move beyond the theory of the classroom into the real-world practice of law.

You can participate in the clinical program upon completion of your first year. Michigan Court Rules allow you to provide direct representation to clients in varying settings, always under the supervision of faculty. You will interview clients and witnesses, negotiate with opposing counsel, make legal arguments before judges, and handle contested hearings. You will develop expertise in client counseling, discovery, negotiation and mediation, legal writing, and trial skills.

Current legal practice opportunities include: housing, child welfare, environmental protection, criminal defense, domestic violence, and poverty law.

You will find yourself challenged by ethical dilemmas that continually arise in the practice of law, and the faculty will be there to help you think through your solutions.

Finally, you'll notice that all of our clinics are designed to help people who would otherwise not have access to high quality legal counsel. Public service is a foundational value of our law school as a public institution. Public service on behalf of the broader community is an integral part of our clinical program.

You will find that your clinical experience will provide direction for and enhance the rest of your legal education and prepare you to enter confidently into your legal career.