Contact Information
| Name: | American University / Washington College of Law |
| Address: | 4801 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC - 20016 |
| Phone: | (202) 274-4144 |
| Fax: | (202) 274-0659 |
Service Information
Students in this clinic help low-income clients achieve access to justice through advocacy in a variety of legal contexts. Students help their clients solve legal problems and provide representation in civil matters in the courts and administrative agencies of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and the federal government.
With faculty supervision, students handle all aspects of representation that permit them to develop core lawyering skills, such as interviewing clients and witnesses, developing case theories, conducting fact investigations and discovery, counseling clients, negotiating, and appearing in court. Within a single semester, students can gain a diverse range of experiences that deepen their understanding of the attorney-client relationship, problem solving, the intersection of law and procedure, and social justice.
Student attorneys attend a seminar covering topics such as client-centered lawyering, interview, counseling, and case theory, and negotiation. These classes provide the foundation that support and strengthen students lawyering experiences throughout the semester. Student attorneys also participate in weekly case rounds during which they share case developments and issues with other students. These discussions help students grapple with the legal, procedural, and ethical issues that arise during their client representation.