Students in the Civil Rights and Disability Justice Clinic will engage in impact litigation and other forms of legal and strategic policy advocacy to advance the cause of social justice. In this year-long clinic, students will work under close faculty supervision and in partnership with community members, grassroots groups, and legal organizations to litigate cases and develop advocacy related to a range of civil rights and disability justice issues including racial, economic, and criminal justice, and education, housing, and voting rights.

In a complementary seminar, students will read and discuss scholarship and cultural commentary related to the substantive issues, legal concepts, theories, and ethical considerations that arise in their casework.

Students will be graded on the quality of their advocacy as determined by their written submissions and assignments, including but not limited to, the effort, improvement, and timeliness of their submissions. They will also be evaluated based on class participation and clients' assessments of their interactions with the students.

Approved for the Experiential Learning Requirement, and satisfies the Writing Requirement. Enrollment is limited. Registration is binding. Application and interview are required, and the application can be found in the Student Resources on the NYLS Portal.

Please note: Per ABA rules, this course may only be used for one graduation requirement. Students must communicate with the Registrar at the time of registration to elect to count the course for either Writing Requirement or Experiential Learning Requirement.

Recommended for the Following Professional Pathways: Civil Rights/Civil Liberties; Criminal Defense; Criminal Prosecution; Family Law; Government/Public Sector; Immigration; International Law/Human Rights; Labor and Employment; General Practice – Litigation/Dispute Resolution

12 Credits: Full Year Course
Fall: 6 credits
Spring: 6 credits