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ADVANCED CLINIC PRACTICE (ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 9080)
2 credits
Many students who participate in the Elder Law, Securities Arbitration, Child Advocacy and Bread and Life: Immigration Clinics express a desire to continue their work in the clinic for another semester. This course allows former clinic students to apply to work in the clinic for an additional semester for credit. Each of the four clinics will accept no more than 2 former students each semester. Students will work in the clinic for 13 hours a week. Faculty supervision will include weekly meetings with students to discuss casework and further development of skills and case rounds. During the semester, each advanced clinic student will have the opportunity to refine the skills they have learned, acquire new skills, and mentor new students. Interested students will apply to the appropriate clinic and will be chosen by the clinical faculty.
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CONSUMR JUSTICE ELDER LIT CL (ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 2010)
4 credits
The Elder Law Clinic is a one-semester in-house clinical program and is available to second and third-year students. The Clinic addresses the legal needs of Queens' senior citizens and affords students the opportunity to develop essential lawyering skills, practical legal knowledge and professional responsibility while serving the community. Students represent clients in the areas of consumer law (focusing on consumer frauds and scams, including predatory lending), debtor-creditor law and benefit entitlements, such as social security disability, supplemental security income, Medicaid and pension benefits. Clinical Professors supervise students in all aspects of client representation. Students provide representation from the initial client contact through the final resolution of their case. Accordingly, students perform client and witness interviews; perform legal research; draft all pleadings including complaints, answers, motions and briefs; conduct discovery proceedings, including depositions; argue motions; represent clients at administrative hearings and at court hearings and trials; and represent clients at settlement negotiations and draft settlement agreements. Students are required to work in the Clinic 13 hours a week (20 hours a week during summer program). There is also a weekly 2-hour seminar component.
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POVERTY LAW SEMINAR (INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS - 1060)
2 credits
This course will explore legal issues affecting low-income people, how the legal system has responded, and changing ways of effectively advocating on behalf of low-income individuals and communities. Emphasis will be placed on social and economic justice issues, including community development, welfare law, environmental justice, predatory lending and housing issues. Grades are based upon class participation, a research paper, and a short presentation on the research paper topic.