In the Education Law Clinic, students attend a substantive education law seminar that prepares them to represent clients in education matters from various civil rights agencies, including but not limited to, Legal Services New York City, Brooklyn Defender Services, Advocates for Children of New York, and the New York Civil Liberties Union. Law students are supervised on their cases by education law attorneys from these agencies who are NYLS adjunct faculty.

Caseloads vary, but they typically include: special education, school discipline, Title IX, discrimination, language access, Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) litigation, or school admissions issues. Law students may also draft impartial hearing requests, advocate for students at Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, research and draft complaints, assist with coordinating advocacy/policy campaigns, deliver know-your-rights workshops to students and parents, and prepare for and/or conduct opening and closing arguments and witness examinations in administrative hearings.

The fall semester seminar teaches students advanced issues in education law and practice, which includes special education law, the school-to-prison pipeline, equity and access issues, and representing clients. Training also includes simulations and case rounds that focus on developing trial advocacy and client representation skills. In the spring, students meet bi-weekly for case rounds and workshops.

This year-long clinic is seven credits. Overall, students should devote a minimum of 16 hours per week to the course in the fall and 12 hours per week in the spring. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in the two-credit Special Education Law and Practice seminar.

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

Recommended for the Following Professional Pathways: Government/Public Sector; Civil Rights/Civil Liberties; Family Law; General Practice: Litigation/Dispute Resolution; Criminal Defense

7 Credits: Full Year Course
Fall: 4 credits
Spring: 3 credits