These experiential learning programs develop and hone lawyering skills of the highest caliber, building on more than 85 years of clinical education leadership. They help you build a bridge from law school to legal practice — no matter what area of practice you pursue — connecting substantive classroom knowledge to foster a strategic, rather than a formulaic, approach to clients' needs.
Students gain a leg up on their peers by developing the ability to:
Our clinical offerings are more in-depth and supportive than those at most law schools, which often provide only semester-long or simulated clinical experiences. Our yearlong clinics provide deep and impactful experiential learning — and often offer a second-year advanced clinic for select students. Our six clinics give students significant experience working directly with real clients under the supervision of seasoned practitioners who are leaders in their field:
Students in our Housing Law and Policy Clinic represent clients and work with local organizations to address complex community housing issues.
Our Immigration Clinic provides pro bono representation to clients from all over the world who are seeking asylum and other forms of humanitarian protection.
Our Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic supports clients at the leading edge of burgeoning issues in the information age, including copyright and trademark protection, privacy and First Amendment rights.
From war crimes and genocide to human trafficking and crimes against humanity, our International Human Rights Clinic serves victims of some of the most urgent and devastating issues facing society.
In our Mediation Clinic, students develop conflict resolution skills to mediate real cases at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in this rapidly growing area of the law.
Students in our Post-Conviction Justice Project represent clients at parole hearings, litigate petitions for writs of habeas corpus and help provide a second chance at justice for life-term inmates.
Students in our Small Business Clinic handle more than 100 transactional legal matters each year for startup companies, entrepreneurs and nonprofits.
More than 1,000 students have represented nearly 5,000 clients through our clinics. Community impact ranges from helping a small-business owner form a new entity to releasing someone who served 32 years in prison for a crime committed by her batterer.
The skills developed through our clinics transfer seamlessly to practice no matter what area of the law you end up pursuing. Most students cite their work in a clinic as the highlight of their law school experience.
Explore a substantive legal issue in depth while gaining hands-on experience working with clients through one of our practicums:
Work closely with faculty and outside advocates on real-world projects involving important civil rights, poverty law or access to justice issues for low-income people. You will join a project team and gain experience in litigation, amicus briefs and/or drafting legislation, reports or advocacy manuals.
Past projects have included:
Up to four JD students may enroll in the practicum, and you will receive academic credit for the course.
Assist a family from start to finish in finalizing a foster child adoption and gain experience in California's child welfare system, juvenile court system, and foster care and adoption law. You will also learn about special education and mental health services for foster children with special needs, as well as techniques to successfully advocate for eligibility and increased funding.
Under the supervision of a public counsel attorney, students:
Up to five JD students may enroll in the practicum, and you will receive academic credit for the course.
Partner with students from the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Price School of Public Policy to work in medical-legal community partnerships with attorneys from Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County.
Learn about legal issues including access to medical care and addressing community barriers to health, such as medical debt, income and food insecurity, employment issues, landlord/tenant disputes, immigration and family law.
Under the supervision of an attorney, you will:
Up to eight JD students may enroll in the practicum, and you will receive academic credit for the course.
Partner with Veterans Legal Institute to assist former servicemembers of the United States Armed Forces with legal issues stemming from the visible and invisible wounds of war.
Learn about legal issues including discharge upgrades, moral injury, military sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and administrative appeals within the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Under the supervision of an attorney, you will:
Up to ten JD students may enroll in the practicum, and you will receive academic credit for the course.
