Clinics - Not Entirely Impossible!

So we discovered a few things about clinics that I forgot to report on. The Evening Student Association held a clinic event that was well attended back in November (there was free food), and we were able to arrange for the faculty directors to speak in the evening about each of their respective programs.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with clinics, they are basically classes that are more "hands-on" than regular classes. You work closely on cases and issues with real clients. In some instances you get to go to court (although only 3Ls get to argue under certain circumstances, such as in family court).

We heard from faculty directors about the Child Advocacy, Constitutional Litigation, Environmental Law, Urban Legal, and Special Education clinics. The general consensus was that evening students are allowed to register for them, but you will need some flexibility in your schedules. There are mandatory seminars that meet weekly towards the end of the day, and there may be some instances when you will be needed to do coursework during the day. So, if you work on a flex schedule or can get away when you need to, then you can do a clinic. Some are more flexible than others, of course. And, if there is one that you are aching to be a part of, you can always contact the director and try to work something out. Nothing is impossible, not even for evening students!

If you can, then I would definitely recommend participating in a clinic. It is a great way to get legal experience, which is the biggest problem for many of us evening students. I'm all for killing two birds with one stone (back off, PETA), and with a clinic you get experience plus school credit. I am going to try it for next fall, but right now I have to break the news to my boss that I'm leaving early two days a week starting in January. THIS should be fun!