"Clinical teaching has been a rewarding experience for me. It is fulfilling for me to help guide tomorrow’s leaders to develop their legal acumen and to take on entrepreneurship and economic development issues. In the Small Business Clinic, I am able to engage students in small business and economic development issues, which may influence them to take on these issues in their future careers. I also appreciate that the Small Business Clinic enables me to assist in the development of small businesses — the key to a community’s economic growth.”
— Dana A. Thompson, Assistant Professor of Law (Clinical) and Director of the Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African-American Legal History
Child Advocacy Clinic
Student interns in the Child Advocacy Clinic represent children in abuse, neglect, foster care review, termination of parental rights, adoption and delinquency proceedings. Student interns learn about the child protection, child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and the roles and responsibilities of lawyers and other participants in those systems. Students conduct client interviews and home visits, prepare for hearings and trials, advocate for necessary services, perform research, draft motions, and attend juvenile court and foster care review board hearings. The Child Advocacy Clinic is a two-semester, four-credit course, graded on an Honors, Pass, Low Pass, No Credit basis. No credit will be awarded if both semesters are not satisfactorily completed. Students are required to attend and participate in the classroom component of the Clinic, and to spend eight additional hours per week on fieldwork for the Clinic. Much of this work will take place at the Wayne County Juvenile Court, which is located near I-75 and Warren Avenue. Enrollment is limited to 12 students per academic year, who must have passed all of the required first-year courses and be in good academic standing. LEX 7070 (Child Abuse & Neglect), LEX 7075 (Child, Family & State), or LEX 8028 (Child, Family & State Seminar) is a pre- or co-requisite for the first semester of the Clinic. LEX 7435 (Juvenile Delinquency) is a pre- or co-requisite for the second. Interested students should contact Professor David Moss at (313) 577-3970.
Criminal Appellate Practice
In this clinical course, taught by a member of the State Appellate Defender Office, each student prepares a criminal appellate brief on behalf of a real client incarcerated in a Michigan prison who has been convicted of a felony after a jury trial. The students interview the client, present a mock oral argument to a panel of experienced criminal appellate practitioners, and ultimately ha ve their brief submitted to the Michigan Court of Appeals. The Criminal Appellate Practice course is available for 3 graded credits. Enrollment is limited to 12 students. Interested Students should contact Adj. Prof. Gail Rodwan, (313) 256-9833, Ext. 228 or gail@sado.org.
Disability Law Clinic
Students assist low-income individuals with disabilities in a range of issues, including social security/SSI, special education, and Medicaid/Medicare. The Clinic aims to help its clients obtain the services and supports they need to live in their own homes rather than in institutional settings. The Disability Law Clinic offers students an intensive exposure to administrative advocacy, while helping one of Detroit’s most underrepresented populations. The Disability Law Clinic is available for 6 credits graded Honors, Pass, Low Pass, or No-Credit. Enrollment is limited to 8 students. Interested students should contact Prof. David Moss, (313) 577-3970, david.moss@wayne.edu.
Environmental Law Clinic
The classroom component of this clinic will teach students the skills and strategies needed to affect environmental policy in all three branches of state and federal government. During classroom sessions, students will learn about current environmental policy challenges and opportunities and explore these issues from multiple perspectives. Guest speakers from government, public interest, and regulated industries will provide diverse views on environmental law and policy. In the clinical component, students will participate in the lawmaking process by preparing policy papers and formal legislative testimony, commenting on rulemaking and permit decisions, and engaging in judicial review and enforcement litigation. In all clinical work, the students will work with the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, and on some selected matters may be involved in formally representing other community organizations and public interest groups. Students must have completed or concurrently be taking LEX 7006 Administrative Law and LEX 7231 Environmental Law or obtain advance consent of the instructor prior to enrollment. Open only to students who have completed all required first-year courses. Advanced Environmental Law Clinic option available for those who complete Environmental Law Clinic. Interested students should contact Prof. Noah Hall, (313) 577-9771.
Free Legal Aid Clinic
FLAC is the law school’s oldest and largest live-client clinic. FLAC originated as a student-run nonprofit organization and continues today in partnership with Lakeshore Legal Aid and the Elder Law & Advocacy Center. FLAC provides legal assistance in state court on elder law and family law matters, such as custody, support, visitation, and divorce. FLAC is available for 3 ungraded credits or work study and includes a classroom component. Interested students should contact FLAC at (313) 833-0058.
Small Business Enterprises and Non-profit Corporations Clinic
The Small Business Enterprises and Non-profit Corporations Clinic is Wayne Law's transactional clinic. The Clinic represents both for-profit and non-profit clients who cannot afford to pay for legal services offered by attorneys in the private bar. The Clinic will assist businesses within the city of Detroit and in the Detroit metropolitan area. Among the services the clinic offers are: entity formation, contract review and preparation, review and drafting of commercial real estate documents, preparation of trademark and copyright applications, and preparation of tax exempt applications. The Clinic represents clients only on business transactions and does not work on litigation matters. Interested students should contact Professor Dana A. Thompson at (313) 577-3961 or at droach@wayne.edu.
Click here for a detailed program description on the Small Business and Non-profit Corporations Clinic.