Under the supervision of the Clinic' Supervising Attorney, students will review cases referred to the Clinic and where appropriate will represent consumers in the prosecution and litigation of their respective claims, including possible litigation in Small Claims Court. Students will handle all phases of the case work, including case evaluation, client interviewing, negotiation of possible settlement, legal research and factual development of the claims, and representation of the litigants in court proceedings. Students are expected to commit at least 12 hours per week to the fieldwork, which normally will be done at the Clinic office in downtown Springfield. In addition to the fieldwork, there will be regularly scheduled seminar meetings and training sessions in which students will engage in discussions and simulation exercises to develop the professional skills and perspectives which are essential to such a litigation practice. Students will be graded on a pass-fail basis.
Enrollment is limited to four students each semester.
With permission of the instructor, a prerequisite course may be taken concurrently with the Clinic. Students who take LAW 907 Clinical Externships with judges will receive three academic credits and will be supervised by Professor Catherine Jones. Those students will be required to take a seminar class with Professor Jones that will meet for six two-hour sessions during the semester. All other LAW 907 Clinical Externships will continue to be for two credits with students arranging for individual faculty supervision. The seminar component of the LAW 907 is designed to add additional substance to the externship experience.