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THE VILLANOVA CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Through our in-house legal clinics, students gain invaluable hands-on experience while serving real clients in need facing critical legal issues.

Our clinics are one place where everything in our students’ journeys come together—they represent a convergence of classroom work, commitment to the common good and real-world practice. They are a place where students earn academic credit while having a formative experience through direct client representation, all on a pro bono basis. Under the direct supervision of a full-time faculty member, students learn by doing.

During their intensive semester-long clinic commitment, students are the primary advocates for their clients—interviewing, counseling, negotiating agreements, structuring deals, drafting legal documents or representing them in court. Depending on their client’s goals and needs, they may master strategies for negotiation, the art of fact investigation, executing a trial strategy or the benefits of being part of a collaborative team.

Most importantly, students practice ethical client-centered lawyering and reflect on whether justice is done in the legal system, all while serving the community and changing lives. Participating in a clinic allows students to actively live out ֱ’s mission—nurturing a concern for the common good and becoming responsible and productive citizens who build a just and peaceful world.

Our Clinics

A hallmark of the ֱ clinical experience is student responsibility for the legal representation of clients.Clinical students acquire fundamental lawyering skills by assumingdirect responsibilityfor case management and preparation. The client is fundamentally your client.

  • Youinterview, counsel and manage all communications with your client
  • Youidentify your client’s goals, as well as the issues affecting your clients and the resources available for resolving them
  • Youdevelop a case theory and a case plan to achieve your client’s goals
  • Youidentify and resolve the ethical issues that arise in your case
  • Youinvestigate the facts of your client’s case
  • Youfind the law controlling your client’s case
  • Youwill draft, revise and finalize any necessary case documents, which may include complaints, answers, motions, evidentiary exhibits, applications, briefs, contracts, research memos, organizational documents, professional correspondence, or more
  • Youare lead counsel at any trials and hearings and in negotiations and board meetings
  • Youare responsible for due diligence throughout your legal work

1998

Clinical Programs started

4,000+

Cases handled

Linea Espanola: (866) 655-4419
Fax: (610) 519-5173

Phone: 610-519-5894

NEWS


ֱ University Charles Widger
School of Law
299 N. Spring Mill Rd.
ֱ, PA 19085
610-519-7000 Contact Law

ֱ University Charles Widger School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, (312) 988-6738