Clinical Professor Sue T. Bentch teaches the classroom component of the clinic. It is designed to introduce students to the actual practice of law, and to the skills and responsibilities of lawyering, through the supervised representation of low-income clients in civil cases. They interview and counsel clients, negotiate with opposing counsel and administrative agencies, draft legal documents, investigate facts to obtain and organize evidence, and try actual cases. In addition, the Clinic also represents homeless and near- homeless families and individuals in a wide variety of civil cases. Associate Professor Ana M. Novoa is the Associate Coordinator.
Enrollment is limited to third-year students.
The Community Development Clinic involves students in capacity-building economic development activities in San Antonio and the colonias of South Texas. Colonias are unincorporated townships along the U.S.-Mexico border in which people live in desperate poverty with no running water, sewer systems, or paved roads. Students work with residents in San Antonio and the colonias to establish community development corporations that will address housing, health care, child care, business development, and similar economic needs. Students also examine the provisions of federal and state laws which provide economic assistance for communities to determine what resources might be available for the economic development of the region, and take the steps necessary to secure such resources. The Director of the clinic is Frances M. Leos , who launched the program in the fall of 1995.