First Amendment Clinic

4 credits · Law School

The First Amendment Clinic will introduce students to civil litigation implicating the free speech rights of low-income individuals and organizations. Students will learn the foundational principles of current free speech doctrine under the First Amendment, including prior restraint, time/place/manner restrictions, content and viewpoint discrimination, and the intersection of free speech and other doctrinal areas, through representation of clinic clients. Students will also develop core skills essential to legal advocacy, including: client interviewing and counseling; research, writing, and drafting; discovery; oral and written advocacy; negotiation; and client-centered lawyering. Critical reflection, consistent engagement with ethical rules, and examination of the role of the lawyer in a legal system and the local community will assist students in developing a professional understanding of their work. Note: This course is not a substitute for the First Amendment doctrinal course; prior exposure to First Amendment law is welcome, though not required. Note: This clinic requires that students attend a "boot camp" to be scheduled on the weekend prior to the start of classes. Note: A "no drop" policy will be in place once students have registered. Only the individual clinic professor can grant a waiver of this policy. Enrollment limited. [4]