Exposure to the problems and the cultures of poverty, and to the intersection of those realities with legal rules and practice, deepens understanding of the legal system and its relation to the society at large. It also introduces students to the demands and rewards of practice on behalf of people who cannot afford counsel at market prices. Clinical courses get enthusiastic reviews from student participants, most of whom find them challenging and educational. Many students find that practical lawyering produces a sense of personal accomplishment as well as professional development. Several reasons account for this.
Students thus increase access to justice.
Finally, participation in clinical activities can be of assistance in choosing a career by exposing students to a variety of settings. They build learning and lawyering competencies that can help them to make more informed choices about the work they want to do and the settings in which they feel most challenged. Clinical courses do not exist in a vacuum. They should be an integral part of a student's legal education, in the broadest sense. Planning should be undertaken as early as the first semester to combine clinical courses and placements with other courses, writing projects, student organizations, summer work and other law school experiences as well as outside interests.