The Clinic carries six credits during the fall and spring, five credits during the summer. The Clinic typically attracts students interested not only in criminal prosecution and defense, but also in civil litigation. The clinical component of this course provides students with the opportunity to represent victims of domestic violence in connection with the variety of legal problems facing them, including custody, divorce, visitation, housing, consumer, public assistance and procurement of protective orders. The Clinic carries six hours of credit. This Clinic is a joint project of the Law School and Legal Aid of Central Texas.
Students represent low income families on their housing-related legal problems.
Thus, a good deal of the work involves representation of clients in threatened evictions and in denials of public housing, subsidized housing and Section 8 housing. The clinic also involves representation of clients in other aspects of landlord-tenant law. Some opportunity exists for real estate related work on behalf of individuals and community-based nonprofit groups. In the past students have drafted deeds, earnest money contracts, affidavits of heirship and leases. Students are responsible for interviewing clients, investigating their cases, researching legal issues, negotiating with opposing parties, drafting pleadings and discovery in eviction cases, and representing clients at administrative hearings and in court.