Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Civil Litigation Program?

The Civil Litigation Program gives students an opportunity to litigate civil cases in the areas of disability law, unemployment compensation law, housing law, divorce and custody law, or immigration law.  The Civil Litigation Program is housed in the offices of Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), New England's largest provider of legal services to indigent clients. Students typically spend 10-15 hours a week at GBLS where they meet with clients and work on their cases.  The Civil Litigation Program also contains a classroom component where students practice pre-trial and trial skills in simulated exercises, and learn about the ethical dilemmas encountered by practicing attorneys.

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What type of cases will I handle?

Students applying to the Civil Litigation Program have three options: the Housing, Employment, Family & Disability Clinic (HEFD) (full-year clinic); the Asylum & Human Rights Clinic (AHR) (full-year clinic); or the Employment Rights Clinic (ERC) (one semester clinic, offered fall and spring).  

The average HEFD clinic caseload over two semesters typically includes 4-5 cases in areas such as domestic relations, eviction defense, employment law and Social Security appeals.  The average AHR clinic caseload over two semesters typically includes two asylum or humanitarian/refugee related cases, and a significant research project. The average ERC clinic caseload over one semester includes three employment rights related cases.

Our goal for all three options is to get you cases with a high likelihood of a hearing or a trial at the end.

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What type of responsibilities will I have?

You will interview your clients, counsel them, negotiate with other attorneys, prepare legal documents, research the applicable facts and law, and prepare for and present your clients' cases at trial.  You will also file and argue motions.

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What type of supervision will I have?

Everything you do will be discussed with a clinical professor. Your professor will always go to court with you and will make sure that you are adequately prepared before you go. All of your written work and case planning will be reviewed and critiqued by your professor. The BU clinical professors are highly experienced professionals in their fields and dedicate themselves fully to your training and supervision.

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What is the classroom component of the Civil Litigation Program?

Students in the HEFD and AHR clinics take three courses: Pretrial Advocacy: Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiating (3 cr.); Trial Advocacy (3 cr.); and Professional Responsibility (2 cr.).  The classes provide activities and simulations in which you role play with the skills we teach.  The culminating experience of the classes takes place in mock trials near the end of the spring semester. 

Students in the fall semester ERC clinic take Pre-Trial Advocacy: Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiating (3 cr.) and a "boot-camp" in Trial Advocacy. Students in the spring semester ERC clinic take Trial Advocacy (3 cr.) and a "boot-camp" in Pre-Trial Advocacy.

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How many credits will I receive?

Students in the HEFD and AHR clinic will receive 6 graded clinical credits (awarded after completion of both semesters) and 8 graded classroom credits (5 fall, 3 spring). Students in the ERC clinic will receive 3 graded clinical credits and 3 graded classroom credits.

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Are there any prerequisites?

If you have not already done so, you must take Evidence during your first semester to satisfy the student practice rule. Students in the ERC Clinic must have taken professional responsibility or take this class concurrently with the clinic. Fall ERC students who have not already taken professional responsibility must take the Civil Litigation Program's professional responsibiliity course.

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Does the Civil Litigation Program count toward a concentration?

Yes. Students participating in the Civil Litigation Program are eligible for the Concentration in Litigation and Dispute Resolution.

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Does the Civil Litigation Program fulfill the professional responsibility requirement?

The professional responsibility classroom component of the AHR and HEFD Clinics satisfies the requirement.  You should NOT take another professional responsibility course if you plan to take the HEFD or AHR Clinics because the ethics component of these two clinics is mandatory. If you participate in the ERC Clinic, and if you have already taken professional responsibility, you do not have to take the Civil Litigation Program's professional responsibility course. Generally speaking, however, if you are unsure of whether you want to take a clinic, you might want to wait until your third year to take professional responsibility.

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How many students are accepted to the program and how are those students selected?

Generally, 12 students are accepted in the AHR Clinic, and 16 students are accepted into the HEFD Clinic. 6 students are accepted to the ERC Clinic each semester. Preference for the Civil Litigation Program is given to 3Ls who have not taken the legal externship program.  2Ls are selected by lottery.

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How do I apply?

Students apply through the on-line application system which will be available on the Clinical Programs website following the Clinical Programs Open House, which occurs each April.  Applications will be due at the end of April, 2010 for participation in the 2010-2011 academic year.

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How do I find more information about the Civil Litigation Program?

Interested students can learn more about the Civil Litigation Program at the Clinical Programs Open House, which will take place in the beginning of April, 2010. You are also welcome to contact Professor Robert Burdick at rburdick@gbls.org.

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