Learning by Doing: Legal Clinics
Each semester, more than 100 second- and third-year students work on actual cases in our in-house law firm under the close supervision of experienced practicing attorneys who serve on our faculty. In addition, some students work in our clinical programs with partner organizations.
The Law Offices of Chicago-Kent is our teaching law firm that provides high-quality clinical education to students while delivering competitively priced legal services to the public. One of the nation's largest in-house clinical programs, handling more than 1,000 cases annually, our firm serves people from every walk of life contending with a wide array of legal problems.
By participating in a clinical program, you'll learn the day-to-day responsibilities of lawyering—deciding which cases to take and what fees to charge, counseling clients, investigating facts, locating and interviewing witnesses, preparing motions, conducting depositions, filing court documents, writing briefs and selecting juries. Licensed 711 third-year student practitioners may also perform certain trial functions.
Summer 2013 Applications - The due date has passed but you can get your name on the waiting list
Fall 2013 Applications - Due Date is Wednesday, April 17 at 5:00.
Clinical Practice Areas
Criminal Defense Litigation
Provide criminal defense representation for all types of felonies and misdemeanors in trial and appellate courts at the state and federal levels.
Employment Discrimination/Civil Rights Litigation
Provide representation primarily on employment discrimination disputes and on civil rights cases in the federal and state courts and in administrative agencies.
Entrepreneurial Law
Address issues that frequently arise for start-up companies, including but not limited to choice of entity, entity formation, contract review and drafting, corporate governance issues, review of leases, trademark searches and filing, and other transactional matters.
Environmental Law
Assist private citizens and community organizations with environmental problems through the Chicago Environmental Law Clinic.
Family Law
Represent clients with divorce and domestic relations disputes in negotiations and in court.
Health and Disability Law
Represent clients in Social Security disability cases and other civil litigation matters that generally involve health, disability or discrimination issues.
Immigration Law
Represent asylum-seekers, individuals seeking immigration benefits for themselves or family members, employers who are hiring non-U.S. citizens, and people facing deportation.
Intellectual Property Law
Work with patent attorneys from the law firm of K&L Gates LLP to research and write patentability opinions, perform clearance searches, and guide clients through intellectual property issues.
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Practice alternative dispute resolution techniques involving juvenile court matters, criminal misdemeanors, employment discrimination cases, landlord-tenant disputes and small claims.
Open Government/Government Watchdog Law (Center for Open Government)
Focus on cases challenging closed government processes; interview and counsel clients, conduct factual investigation and legal research, develop case strategies, collect and analyze documents, and assist with litigation.
Tax Law
Help represent middle-income and small-business taxpayers before the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. District Court; interview and counsel clients, conduct factual investigations and legal research, develop case strategies, prepare tax returns, and assist with litigation.
Learn more about the Chicago-Kent Law Offices and its services.