Clinical and Field Placement Programs

Working with real clients on real problems through our Clinics and Field Placements is one of the richest ways to learn about lawyering because of the complexity and depth that clients bring to the experience.

The College of Law offers a variety of in-house and field placement programs where students have the opportunity to work with and solve problems for real clients.

Learning professionalism, skills, substantive law, procedure, and ethics, participating students find these courses to be among the most satisfying law school experiences as they synthesize what they have learned and apply that knowledge to helping an actual person or organization.

In contrast to a standard work environment, the Clinics and Field Placements, which are considered courses, provide opportunities for students to experience law practice in a supportive, reflective setting that is focused on their learning. Students experiment with different styles of lawyering and explore a variety of legal work that may assist them in choosing a career path.

Clinics and Field Placements also provide students with a valuable service opportunity. All of the Clinics provide free legal services to individuals and organizations that would not otherwise have access to legal representation.

Watch an Overview of the College of Law Clinics

In-house Clinics

• Civil Litigation Clinic
• Community Preservation Clinic
• Conflict Resolution Clinic
• Family Advocacy Clinic
• Federal Civil Rights Clinic

Field Placements

• Appellate Defender
• Appellate Prosecutor
• Domestic Violence Clinic
• Externships
• Innocence Project
• Legislative Projects
• Patent Law Clinic

Spotlight

Melissa Frydman
Family Advocacy Clinic Director

A graduate of Yale Law School with over a half dozen years of practice experience in the Bay Area in family law and three years of teaching experience at New York University School of Law, Professor Frydman leads the College's Family Advocacy Clinic. The Clinic provides legal representation to parents facing separation from their children due to allegations of abuse or neglect. Under the guidance of Professor Frydman, students provide high quality, holistic legal representation to clients facing dire circumstances threatening the disruption of families. The Clinic presents an opportunity for students to learn important litigation and case development skills, while simultaneously serving the surrounding community. Students represent clients and engage in supportive classroom work designed to provide an overview of the juvenile court system.