Pre-requisite: Completion of first year curriculum. Pre-or-co-requisite: Ethics.
Summer 2008 Prof. AJ Ferrara, Prof. M. Geer, Prof. S. Homer
Fall 2008 Prof. A. Land, TBA
Spring 2009 Prof. C. Suzuki, M. Norwood, Prof. A. Sedillo Lopez
The Community Lawyering Clinic provides outreach legal services in partnership with local community service providers, including non-legal disciplines. Through the Medical/Legal Alliance for Children (MLAC) the Clinic has entered into a strategic alliance (the nation’s first) with the Pediatrics Department of the UNM Health Sciences Center. MLAC law students represent children, caregivers, and families to address non-biological factors affecting children’s health including food, housing, education, physical safety (domestic violence), caregivers’ relationships and conflicts over custodial rights, immigration status, involvement in the criminal justice system, and availability of healthcare and other benefits. Students represent clients in Family Court, Children’s Court (juvenile delinquency), and other venues as necessary. In addition to the MLAC, the Community Lawyering Clinic collaborates with PB&J Family Services, the NM Public Defender and organizations serving families of incarcerated and addicted individuals, seniors, and HIV-positive people. Students work under law professor supervision and on interdisciplinary teams when appropriate. Clients include speakers of English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Students will be required (1) to attend and actively participate in up to five classroom sessions during each week of the academic semester and (2) to maintain a schedule of 24 office hours each week during Summer, 16 office hours each week during Fall and Spring semesters.
Students having specific questions about the Community Lawyering Clinic are encouraged to visit with Prof, Homer, Prof. Land or Prof. Suzuki.