Established in 1993, the Clinical Programs at St. John’s School of Law further our mission of providing students with practical, experiential learning opportunities while ensuring that underserved, low-income New York City residents have access to vital legal services. In meeting the needs of the underrepresented and disenfranchised in our community, the Law School clinics honor and foster St. John’s Vincentian tradition.

There are 13 clinics. Four are in-house clinics offered through our not-for-profit legal services organization, the St. Vincent de Paul Legal Program, Inc. Operating out of the Law School’s state-of-the art Clinical Office, they are the:

• Bread and Life: Immigration Clinic
• Child Advocacy Clinic
• Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic
• Securities Arbitration Clinic

The other nine are partner clinics offered in collaboration with legal services organizations and Catholic charities, as well as the Queens County District Attorney’s Office and Bronx County District Attorney’s Office. They are the:

• Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic
• Consumer Protection Clinic
• Criminal Defense Clinic
• Domestic Violence Litigation Clinic
• Economic Justice Clinic
• Immigrant Social Justice Clinic: Housing and Employment
• Kinship Caregiver Law Clinic
• Prosecution Clinic
• Refugee and Immigrant Rights Litigation Clinic

Through their hands-on work in the clinics, students go beyond the legal theory and case analysis learned in the classroom to experience the practice of law in real-world contexts. Supervised by an exceptional clinical faculty of seasoned educators and practitioners, students hone their lawyering skills and professionalism while representing clients. They conduct interviews, counsel clients, investigate facts, research law, plan case strategy, draft pleadings, appear in court and other forums, and negotiate settlements.

This website provides essential information on each of our clinics. We also hold a Clinic Information Session each semester that interested students should attend.