NATURAL SECURITY CLINIC IS A 6-HR. CLINIC. STUDENTS MUST REGISTER FOR BOTH 397C AND 397D.
The National Security Clinic offers students the opportunity to work directly on issues relating to the government's counter-terrorism efforts both domestic and abroad. Students in the clinic work on a wide variety of legal issues, including: the detention, treatment, and prosecution of alleged terrorists; the designation and closing of charitable organizations on allegations of terrorism financing; military justice issues such as the jurisdiction and procedures of military commissions; the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment impacts of national security policies; and the scope of executive powers during wartime. In past semesters, students have participated in federal court litigation in civil, criminal, and habeas cases before district courts and appellate courts, either through direct representation of parties or through amici. Students have also worked on legislative and advocacy projects and drafted legal materials for policymakers. While honing their lawyering skills through casework, students will also explore the intersections of national security law, international humanitarian law, and human rights.
There are no prerequisite courses. Students who have taken the Rule of Law in Wartime course or the National Security Law course are encouraged to apply. First-semester second-year students are welcome to apply. Enrollment is limited.
Permission of the instructors is required to register. To apply, all interested students should send a cover letter, resume, and law school transcript to Sonja Hartley, the Administrator for the National Security Clinic, at shartley@law.utexas.edu. In the cover letter, students should include, among other things, their reasons for applying to the Clinic, any related work or academic experience or interests, and a list of all academic, work, volunteer, and other commitments for the semester. The initial application deadline for applications is the end of the early registration period. Applications submitted after early registration will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and additional students may be admitted if spots are available.
Natarajan, Ranjana 
Jinks, Derek P.