The Free to Be Youth Project Legal Clinic (LGBTQ) in partnership with the Free to Be Youth Project (FYP) of the Urban Justice Center is a one-semester clinic open to 2Ls and 3Ls. Students under the supervision of advocates at FYP will have an unprecedented opportunity to engage in direct legal services for homeless, street-involved, and at-risk youth who identify as LGBTQ+. The homeless and street-involved youth that FYP serve live at the intersections of multiple forms of oppression. Our clients are disproportionately people of color, immigrants, mental health consumers, involved in criminalized street economies, and/or HIV+. Students will be trained to assist youth in a multitude of areas of the law including public benefits, housing, name changes, immigration, criminal justice, and gender-based discrimination. Students will conduct intake in conjunction with our community partners at Ali Forney, Streetworks, and Covenant House.

In addition to the casework, students will attend an hour-and-forty-minute seminar once weekly. The seminar will involve discussions about the cases, instruction on relevant law, as well as examination of policy issues related to LGBTQ+ youth. Students will learn how the law and legal system disproportionately impacts LGBTQ+ homeless youth as they strive to create and maintain stability in their transition into adulthood. Students will conduct interviews with clients, develop issue-spotting skills for each case, engage in problem-solving, legal research and writing, litigation within particular forums and zealous advocacy.

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: Civil Rights/Civil Liberties; General Practice-Litigation; Criminal Defense; Immigration

4 Credits