Partnership Clinics: Information for Students

Students will also assist on CCA’s ongoing impact litigation, and engage in state-level legislative advocacy, as such opportunities arise. Students may assist with CCA’s mobile office, visiting community locations to help youth with legal rights issues.

Legal research and writing will be assigned as needed for the cases and projects. Readings and class discussion will cover substantive law issues, as well as the trial skills necessary to advocate effectively for children and youth. Attendance at various community and state task force meetings will be expected.

Students work under supervision of lawyers at Disability Rights Connecticut and receive training in the law and skills needed to address a wide range of disability law issues. Disability Rights Connecticut’s legal work involves disability discrimination in housing, education, employment and public accommodations; access to healthcare; individual rights; abuse and neglect; and mental health law. It includes individual client representation and systemic-reform advocacy. In addition to fieldwork, students will participate in a weekly seminar in which they will receive training in substantive disability law as well as advocacy skills needed to represent people with disabilities.

The weekly seminar meets in the evening and fieldwork (approximately 8 hours per week) takes place during day, evening and weekend hours. This clinic is structured to accommodate Evening Division students, but some optional activities may require daytime availability.

This clinic is designed to accommodate the schedules of evening students who work full-time or have other full-time daytime responsibilities. Students interview, counsel and draft advance-planning documents for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, under the supervision of an experienced elder-law attorney.

The clinic seminar meets in the evening and all fieldwork takes place on evenings or weekends. Evening Division students will be given enrollment priority.

Students work directly with Save the Sound attorneys on climate change, clean water and open space matters pending before federal and state courts, administrative agencies, and the state legislature. An on-site, bi-weekly (every two weeks) seminar class taught by Save the Sound Senior Legal Counsel will focus on Connecticut environmental law and advocacy. This clinic requires a minimum of 10 fieldwork hours per week, 8 of which must occur on-site at the Save the Sound New Haven office. This is a one semester clinic, but students have the opportunity to continue their work in subsequent semesters through Advanced Fieldwork.

Connecticut Fund for the Environment / Save the Sound

Fieldwork is performed under supervision of Assistant United States Attorneys, investigators, and paralegals, and consists of investigation, evidence gathering, pleading drafting, hearing preparation, attendance at court hearings, legal research, litigation strategy, and settlement negotiations in federal cases, including civil rights matters as well as other criminal and civil cases.

To participate in this clinic, students must pass a background check. Because that process can take several weeks, students must contact the instructors upon enrolling to initiate their background check or risk being unable to fulfill course requirements. Please be mindful that the background check reviews compliance with federal law, along with other considerations.

In the seminar portion of the clinic, students receive training in the applicable law, client interviewing, and other applicable lawyering skills. Fieldwork consists of reviewing military and medical records, meeting with clients, researching relevant regulations and case law, and drafting initial and appeal briefs for clients. Scheduling permitting, students may appear at and participate in a VA administrative hearing.

The clinic seminar meets in the evening and all fieldwork takes place in the evening. Evening Division students will be given enrollment priority.