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Preface
Some Thoughts on the Study of Law
Advanced Legal Research
Civil Procedure and Administrative Law
Clinical Law
Commercial & Real Estate Law
Constitutional Law
Criminal Law and Procedure
Disability Law
Environmental Law
Estates and Trusts Law
Health Care Law
Intellectual Property
International Law
Perspectives Courses
Property
Tax and Business Law
Torts
Index |
CLINICAL LAW
Both the bench and the bar increasingly value the skills and abilities that students receive from a clinical education. Such experiences help students develop better skills for the practice of law, better values to meet the needs of their communities, and better tools to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients and our society. Perhaps the most important aspect of a clinical experience is the self-confidence which students develop as they put their legal training to work for actual clients.
The Law School offers a diverse array of clinical experiences during both the academic year and the summer months. All clinics have limited enrollment and priority is given to third-year students. Because of the limited enrollment, there is a shortened drop period. All clinics are graded on a Pass/D/Fail basis.
Academic Year In-House Clinics
Each of the following in-house clinics is offered both fall and spring semesters, except as noted. Students will apply the substantive and procedural law of the clinic to the representation of real clients. These clinics are taught by faculty and instructors of the Law School and students are expected to devote at least eight hours per week to the clinic during the semester, or more as required by the individual clinic.
Criminal Defense Clinic (Law 665). 3 hours. Students will represent indigent defendants in criminal matters which may include anything from preliminary hearings through full jury trials. This clinic takes place at the Tuscaloosa County Public Defender's offices located in the County Courthouse in downtown Tuscaloosa. Enrollment is limited to 8 students per semester. Offered each semester.
Children's Rights Clinic (Law 665). 3 hours. This is a live-client clinic in which students directly represent children and their families in state court proceedings and before administrative agencies. They also provide non-litigation legal advocacy on behalf of children. Students gain a variety of practical lawyering skills by representing children seeking special education services and by advocating for children's interests as guardians ad litem. Students are assigned their own clients and are responsible for all aspects of each case. In order to provide effective client representation, students are expected to invest twelve hours per week including a weekly classroom component.
Disability Litigation Clinic (Law 665). 3 hours. This clinic provides a diverse, hands-on clinical experience. Students work on a variety of matters including individual cases, class action litigation, and public advocacy on behalf of Alabamians with disabilities. Students develop client advocacy, research and writing, and case strategy skills. Students are expected to invest twelve hours per week on the clinic, including a weekly classroom component.
Elderlaw Clinic (Law 665). 3 hours. With the aging population, Elderlaw has become one of the fastest growing areas of law practice. Students will represent individuals aged 60 and over in matters which may including health care; medicare, medicaid and other public benefits; protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation; advance directives and durable powers of attorney; the drafting of wills; consumer fraud; and a broad array of other civil matters. This clinic is located on the fifth floor of Martha Parham West. Enrollment is limited to 8 students per semester.
Pension Clinic (Law 665). 3 hours. Under a federal grant from the Administration of Aging, the School of Law is able to provide a clinical experience for law students to counsel rural and urban Alabamians on complicated and sophisticated questions of pension law. Because of the complicated nature of pension law, most of the clients served by the pension clinic would not otherwise receive legal representation. In this clinic students will learn and apply the law from this difficult, but rapidly expanding field. This clinic is located on the fifth floor of Martha Parham West. Enrollment is limited to 4 students per semester.
Student Legal Clinic (Law 665). 3 hours. The Student Legal Clinic offers free legal advice and representation to University students in civil cases which do not involve other students, the University, or any University organization. Clinic interns handle cases from intake interview through negotiation and to trial, if necessary, in small claims, district or circuit court. The clinic's caseload encompasses a wide variety of legal claims, including domestic relations, consumer law, collections, insurance, automobile accident, housing, and civil rights claims. The clinic is located in the Ferguson Center with additional meetings held in the Alabama Lawyers Research Service offices (in the Bounds Law Library). Enrollment is limited to 4 students.
Externship Program
Throughout the year, a limited number of externships are offered for students to work in offices under the direct supervision of practicing attorneys.
Academic Year Externship (Law 795). 2 hours. During the academic year a limited number of judicial law clerk placements are available in federal and state judges offices in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Students must work in their assigned judge's chambers for at least eight hours per week, 12 weeks of the semester; attend six hours of classes; and write a twenty-page paper describing legal and/or ethical issues encountered during the externship. Students will observe pre-trial hearings and trials and research and draft memoranda. Students will be visited on site by a faculty member. Students must apply and be accepted into the program.
Summer Externship (Law 634). 5 hours. During the summer a limited number of placements are available with offices specializing in criminal law (i.e., United States Attorneys, District Attorneys, Public Defenders, and Alabama's Attorney General) and civil law (i.e., District Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, the National Labor Relations Board, United States Attorneys' Offices, the Alabama Supreme Court Library's Research Assistance Division, the EEOC, Alabama Division of Mental Health, Governor's Legal Counsel Office, University of Alabama System's Counsel Office, Legal Aid, Legal Services).
Students will work full time during a 6-week session under the direct supervision of attorneys in the offices to which they are assigned. Students also attend an introductory and concluding class at the Law School and submit a twenty-page paper at the conclusion of the externship. Students must apply and be accepted into the program. |