Michigan Law's Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic is one of the great legal resources in Michigan. The clinic not only serves poor people in the local courts, but it also tackles statewide and even national issues. The clinic gives law students the chance to take the lead in representing individuals, while also teaching students about the strategic work involved in bringing 'impact cases' on behalf of prisoners, immigrants, and other groups. Students get to work with some of the best litigation lawyers in the state. No student should miss the chance to take the Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic.
—Bob Gillett, Director, Legal Services of South Central Michigan
Community Resources
The Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic provides free legal representation to people who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Clients are represented by law student-attorneys working under the supervision of professors who are licensed attorneys. The clinic accepts criminal misdeanor cases and a wide variety of civil cases, including landlord-tenant, consumer fraud, contract disputes, prisoners' civil rights, discrimination, sexual harassment, political asylum and refugee, mortgage foreclosure, torts, habeas corpus, debt collection defense, social security, or other public benefits claims. To learn more about how the clinic operates, visit our FAQs page. To see examples of our work, visit our Cases Examples page.
The clinic only conducts case intake and accepts new cases from the second week of September to mid-April each year. If you have a court case during our intake period and want to see if you are eligible for assistance, you can call our offices at 734.763.4319 or email us at mclp@umich.edu. Based on the nature of your case and other factors, we will determine whether an intake appointment is appropriate. We typically can tell you whether the clinic can represent you during this first appointment.
Other sources of free or low-cost legal assistance and information about local attorneys and courts can be found below:
: A list of court-related resources in Washtenaw County and other parts of Michigan.
: Provides free legal advice and representation in certain civil cases. 734.665-6181
: A site designed to help you find legal assistance, learn about Michigan law, and represent yourself in some legal matters.
: This site provides a free lawyer referral service and access to court forms and information about Michigan laws and courts.
: Provides support services to local legal aid programs and other poverty law advocates. The site is also a great source of information about various areas of Michigan law. 734.998.6100
: Provides information on Michigan law and courts, a directory of all Michigan attorneys, and access to Michigan Court opinions and articles about Michigan law.
: Provides information about local attorneys and courts; provides a $30 lawyer referral service for individuals who can afford to hire an attorney. 734.994.4912
: Handles criminal, juvenile, and special civil law appointments and provides a wide array of services related to probation violations, line-ups, personal protection orders, extraditions, Friend of the Court matters, bond reduction hearings, diversions, and responses to legal questions from the public. 734.222.6970
: Access to Washtenaw County courts, court calendar, legal forms, and other helpful information.