USC has a history of clinical legal education that dates back to the 1960s. The University's clinical curriculum is what many would consider a model program. These faculty members have an average of 15 years clinical teaching experience.
Faculty members observe or review all student work and provide detailed critiques.
As a result, student demand for clinical courses is high, but enrollments must be kept low. In addition to these in-house areas of study, the Judicial Internship Clinic places a limited number of students with trial and appellate court judges in the greater Columbia area. The law school also operates a Children's Law Office, which serves as a resource center in child abuse and neglect litigation. The upper-level curriculum also offers skills training for students in a wide range of simulation courses. In addition to the traditional trial advocacy course, the law school offers a criminal trial practice course and a two-week intensive trial advocacy course.