CIVIL RIGHTS CLINIC IS A 6-HR. CLINIC. STUDENTS MUST REGISTER FOR BOTH 397C AND 397D
Students in the Civil Rights Clinic represent low-income clients in a range of matters relating to civil rights issues, such as prisoners’ rights, freedom of religion, speech and association, and due process rights. Students work on cases and projects with co-counsel from Texas-based and/or national civil rights organizations, and under the supervision of clinic faculty. Through direct representation, students hone lawyering skills, including client interviewing and counseling, fact investigation, negotiation, drafting pleadings, discovery and depositions, and trial advocacy. Students work on cases in teams, meeting with supervising clinic faculty on at least a weekly basis.
Students also participate in a classroom seminar, in which students learn relevant substantive and procedural law, discuss the political and social contexts of civil rights cases, and think through how to resolve legal problems effectively and ethically. The seminar meets twice a week for a total of three hours.
The supervising Clinic faculty member is Clinical Professor Ranjana Natarajan. The clinic is offered in the fall and spring, for six (6) credits, pass/ fail. Students must register for Law 397C and 397D, for a total of six credits. The Clinic is open to students who have completed their first two semesters. Students should expect to devote an average of 10-20 hours per week for casework and seminar preparation.
To apply, interested students should send a cover letter, resume, and law school transcript to Lourdes Diaz, Clinic Administrator, at ldiaz@law.utexas.edu. In the cover letter, students should include their reasons for applying to the Clinic, any related coursework, work experience or interests, and a list of all academic, work, volunteer, and other commitments for the semester. Students should also include their UT EID and current contact information. For more information, see https://law.utexas.edu/clinics/civil-rights/.
Natarajan, Ranjana