Clinics at Lewis & Clark Law
Practical Training Through Law School Clinics
A portion of the credits required to graduate must satisfy an experiential learning requirement. Many students choose to satisfy that requirement by getting involved with one of Lewis & Clark Law School’s legal clinics. This gives you an opportunity to apply your legal knowledge to help individuals and organizations in a specialized focus, all under the guidance and mentorship of clinical faculty. Most of our clinics have been launched by professors who are passionate about their study of law and eager to provide those services to the community.
- Animal Law Clinic
- Crime Victim Litigation Clinic
- Criminal Justice Reform Clinic
- Earthrise Law Center
- Farmed Animal Protection Project
- Global Law Alliance for Animals and the Environment
- Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic
- Small Business Legal Clinic
Sunny Sidman More about SunnyI was also fortunate enough to be selected for the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic, where I work on the parole project. Working directly with a client in preparation for a parole hearing is a unique experience that has helped me develop the skills I need for my career after law school.
Matt Heldt More about MattIn fall of my 2L year I did the Small Business Legal Clinic. My favorite part of the experience was that I did real legal work for real clients. Law school is mostly discussing past cases or closed-world hypotheticals, so doing work that made a real impact in my clients’ lives was extremely rewarding.
Animal Law Clinics
The Center for Animal Law Studies is a collaborative effort between Lewis & Clark Law School and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. In addition to our extensive animal law curriculum and ground-breaking degree and certificate programs, we are committed to training the next generation of animal law advocates through our far-reaching experiential learning opportunities.
Animal Law Clinic
(not offered during the 24-25 academic year)
The first enterprise of its kind, the Animal Law Clinic addresses local, national, and international animal law issues. Students conduct research, represent clients, work on clinic projects, and collaborate with attorneys outside the clinic. Where possible, students also shadow local lawyers, work with lawyer practitioners around the country, observe legal proceedings, and conduct field work to better understand the problems facing animals.
Farmed Animal Protection Project
The Farmed Animal Protection Project provides an opportunity for all law students (LLM, MSL and JD) to protect farmed animals. There is an in-class component as well as an out-of-class individual project. Students create an individual project in the field of farmed animal protection law as preparation to work as lawyers or advocates for animal nonprofits and NGOs.
Farmed Animal Protection Project
Business Law Clinics
While many business law classes at Lewis & Clark offer students simulated real-life experiences, those interested in learning in a hands-on environment have access to two clinics.
Criminal Law Clinics
Lewis & Clark’s Criminal Law and Justice program prepares students for legal practice as a prosecutor or a defense attorney in both state and federal courts, and our graduates routinely find work as government prosecutors, public defenders, and private defense attorneys.
Environmental Law Clinics
At one of the top environmental law programs in the country, Lewis & Clark students gain the legal expertise and experience to help solve some of the world’s most complex environmental challenges.
Earthrise Law Center
Our domestic environmental law clinic advances efforts aimed at protecting the environment. This center aids public interest organizations in need of legal representation, and trains law students through direct involvement in complex environmental and natural resource cases. Earthrise provides rewarding clinical experience for students interested in environmental law who wish to develop their litigation, negotiation, and advocacy skills.
International Animal and Environmental Law Clinic
Lewis & Clark Law School is a leader in animal and environmental legal studies, and has combined the two areas under one global umbrella.
Global Law Alliance for Animals and the Environment
The Global Law Alliance is a partnership between our world-renowned Center for Animal Law Studies and one of the nation’s top-ranked Environmental Law Program, and offers two clinics: the International Animal and Environmental Law Clinic for JD students and the International Wildlife Law Clinic for LLM students. The clinics are a champion for wild animals and wild spaces across the globe, working to protect animals and the environment through the development, implementation, and enforcement of international law. Students actively participate in ongoing cases and projects of the Global Law Alliance. In addition to learning substantive international environmental law and international wildlife law, students have the opportunity to deepen their research, problem solving, analytical, and writing skills.