Academics

Course Descriptions

Classes. Each clinical course includes regularly scheduled classes designed to review the law and procedure relevant to the clinic's practice, and to engage students in classroom exercises designed to assist in developing the legal skills required to represent clients.

Prerequisites. Students may enroll in the Disability Clinic following completion of the first-year requirements. To enroll in the Civil Practice Clinic, students must satisfy the requirements of the Indiana Supreme Court rules for certification to practice law: completion of 45 credit hours and completion of or enrollment in Professional Responsibility. In addition to meeting these requirements for certification, students wishing to enroll in the Criminal Defense Clinic also must have taken Criminal Law and have completed or currently be enrolled in Evidence and Criminal Procedure I.

Credits. The number of credits awarded for each clinic is based on the classroom component and the time spent in representing clients. Students spend approximately 5 to 10 hours per week representing their clients, depending on the number of credits to be awarded. Offered during both the fall and spring semesters, these courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Students may not enroll in more than one clinic per semester without the permission of the clinic faculty. The law school has a 12-credit restriction on clinical courses (these include internships and externships) and a 10-credit restriction on nonclassroom courses. One-half of the credits earned in the clinics count toward the law school's 10-credit restriction on nonclassroom credits.

Clinical Programs

The law school offers three clinical courses that provide students with opportunities to counsel and represent actual clients under the direct supervision of law school faculty. Two of the clinics practice in the area of civil law and the other focuses on the criminal defense area. In the Civil Practice Clinic, students represent low-income and elderly persons in a variety of general civil matters, while in the Disability Clinic students are involved in the legal counseling and administrative representation of low-income persons with disabilities. The Criminal Defense Clinic provides students with the opportunity to practice in the area of criminal law through interviewing, counseling, and representing clients charged with Class D felonies or misdemeanors in the Marion County courts. The clients are referred through the Marion County Public Defender Agency. Students enrolling in the Criminal Defense Clinic for a second semester may work on Innocence Project cases, which involve inmates who are making claims of innocence in post-conviction proceedings. In addition to these courses, students may also enroll for clinical credit in conjunction with a traditional classroom course. This advanced clinical option allows students to create experiential learning opportunities through developing a project in connection with a course to learn more about the practice of law in that area.

Advanced Clinical Experience (1 or 2 cr.) DN803 This clinical option provides a mechanism for students to earn academic credit for experiential learning done in conjunction with a classroom course. Students engage in activities that allow them to study the law and theory learned in the classroom in a practice-related experience. The experiential learning project must be approved by the faculty member teaching the classroom course to which the experiential learning opportunity is related. Non-graded (S/F) credit is awarded upon completion of assigned project.

Appellate Clinic (2 cr.) DN___ students represent indigent clients in civil or criminal appeals. Conducted under the supervision of clinical faculty, students are responsible for all aspects of representation, including client communication, drafting motions and briefs to the Indiana Court of Appeals, presenting oral argument and litigating a petition to transfer to the Indiana Supreme Court. P: Completion of 45 credit hours, Criminal Law (D/N 533), Intramural Moot Court (D/N 746), and completion of or enrollment in Professional Responsibility (D/N 861). The following courses are strongly recommended: Evidence (D/N 632), Criminal Procedure: Investigation (D/N 702), and Appellate Practice (D/N 810). Students must submit an application and receive instructor approval prior to registration. (application)

Civil Practice Clinic (3 to 4 cr.) DN808 Students represent clients in a variety of civil matters. These include domestic cases, such as dissolution of marriage, custody, support, paternity, and domestic violence; housing controversies; consumer problems; challenges to administrative decisions of state and federal agencies; and a variety of other general civil problems. This clinic is conducted under the supervision of clinical faculty, but students are responsible for all aspects of representation, including presentations in court and administrative hearings. P: Completion of 45 credit hours and completion of or enrollment in Professional Responsibility (DN861).

Criminal Defense Clinic (3 to 4 cr.) DN808 Students represent clients in criminal cases involving a variety of misdemeanor or Class D felony charges. Conducted under supervision of clinical faculty, students are responsible for all aspects of representation, including presentations in court. P: Completion of 45 credit hours, Criminal Law (DN533), Evidence (DN632), Criminal Procedure: Investigation (DN702) and completion of or enrollment in Professional Responsibility (DN861).

Disability Clinic (2 cr.) DN808 Under faculty supervision, students interview, counsel, and represent persons with disabilities in administrative appeals. Typical legal problems presented include eligibility for and continuation of benefits based on disability from the Social Security Administration. P: Completion of all basic-level required courses except Constitutional Law.

Immigration Clinic (2 or 3 cr.) DN___ Students represent both detained and non-detained clients in immigration matters before federal administrative agencies under the supervision of the professor/counsel. Typical cases involve claims of asylum, family-based immigration petitions (including domestic violence) and crime victim visas. Students may enroll in the clinic for two consecutive semesters. P: Course is open to upper level J.D. students and LL.M. students. Completion of or enrollment in Immigration Law (unless waived by the instructor) and Professional Responsibility is required. Students must receive instructor approval prior to registration.