• Degree Requirements
• First Year Writing
• Moot Court Programs
• Clinics/Externships
  • About Clinical Programs
  • Civil Litigation Program
    • About the Program
    • Requirements
    • Concentration
    • Faculty
  • Criminal Clinical Program
    • About the Program
    • Requirements
      • Second Year Students
      • Third Year Students
    • About the Courts
    • Concentration
    • Faculty
  • Legal Externships
    • About the Program
    • Requirements
    • Field Placements
      • Placement Listings
      • Accepted Students
        • Fall Semester Students
        • Spring Semester Students
        • Placement Search
        • Program Materials
    • In Class
    • Concentration
  • Legislation Policy & Drafting Clinic
    • About the Program
    • What Alumni Say
    • How Legislation Clinics Work
    • Requirements
    • General Legislation
    • Intellectual Property Legislation
    • Health & Environmental Legislation
    • Concentration
    • Faculty
    • Contact the Editor
    • FAQs
  • Legislative Counsel Clinic
    • About the Program
    • Requirements
  • Legislative Internship Program
    • About the Program
    • Requirements
    • Recent Legislative Internship Placements
    • FAQs
  • Trial Advocacy Program
  • How to Apply
    • Open House
    • Application A
      • Clinical Programs Application A and Preference Sheet
    • Application B
      • Legislative Programs Application & Preference Form
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
• Concentration
• Dual Degrees
• Study Abroad Programs
• Pro Bono Program
• Visiting Exchange Students

Frequently Asked Questions

Clinical Programs

Should I do a clinical program?

Clinical programs offer valuable practical experience by integrating theory with real world law practice or law making. They provide a unique opportunity for one-on-one learning under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Depending on the program, students might interview clients, investigate facts, negotiate on behalf of their clients, participate in court and administrative proceedings or draft legislation. Students also can focus their clinical experience in a particular area of law, such as Health Law, Litigation, Immigration, Criminal Law, Tax, Securities or Civil Rights, for example.

Clinics also are a way to contribute to the legal profession's public service obligations and to help clients who might not otherwise obtain legal representation.

Please note that you must take a clinical program if you want to do the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Concentration.

Where do I get information on clinical programs?

• The Office of Clinical and Advocacy Programs is located in room 1224. You can call the office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (617) 353-3148, or e-mail lclinic@bu.edu with general questions.
• For questions about the Legal Externship Program, contact Professor Lois Knight, room 1224A.
• For questions about the Criminal Clinical Programs, contact Professor David Rossman, room 1220.
• For information on the Civil Litigation Program, contact Professor Robert Burdick, room 1224D.
• For information on the Legislation Clinics and the Legislative Internship Program, contact Professor Robert Seidman, room 1120B and Sean Kealy.

The career perspective on clinics

Graduates who have done a clinical program have gone on to many different types of employment, including private law firms, government agencies, public interest agencies and district attorney and public defender offices. Clinics provide hands-on experience, which allows you to hit the ground running in law practice. Feel free to talk to a CDO counselor about how a clinical program might fit into your career goals.