FAQ

What is the difference between the Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics, the Africa i-Parliaments Clinic, the Legislative Counsel Clinic, and the Legislative Internship Program?

All four programs are one-semester clinical courses open to second-year and third-year students. The Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics is a writing intensive in-house clinic that teaches students how to draft bills. The Africa i-Parliaments Clinic is similar to the Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics, but with a focus on supporting the African Parliamentary Knowledge Network initiative. The Legislative Counsel Clinic is an in-house clinic where students help clients advance a bill or project. The Legislative Internship Program is a fieldwork based program where students work in the office of a Senator or Representative in the Massachusetts legislature.

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What does it mean that the Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics is really four clinics?

The Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics comprises four distinct clinics: the General Legislative Clinic, the Intellectual Property Legislative Clinic, the Health & Environmental Legislative Clinic, and the African Issues Clinic (new for 2009-2010). Students choose one of these four clinics depending on their areas of interest. The African Issue Clinic handles projects similar in scope to the Africa i-Parliaments Clinic. For a representative list of past projects on which students have worked in the four Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics, please click here.

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If I don’t plan to work in government, what do the Legislative Clinics offer?

Statutes and regulations have become central to lawyers’ work in the private sector as well as the public. Private lawyers not only advise clients on existing law but also draft and comment on changes in the law during the legislative process. Alumni of the Legislative Clinics now work in every practice setting, including large and small law firms and corporate law departments. Many report that their experience in the Legislative Clinics was the chief topic of their interviews for private sector positions.

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What are the chances of a 2L getting into the Legislative Clinics?

Priority is given to third-year students, however, second-year students are welcome in the legislation programs. In fact, we prefer a mix of second-year and third-year students. If you participate in the Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics as a drafter in your second year, you also may have the great opportunity to serve as an editor in your third year.

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Do the Legislative Clinics count towards a concentration or fulfill the upperclass writing requirement?

Satisfactory completion of the research report in the Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics satisfies the Upperclass Writing Requirement. A limited number of students may satisfy the Upperclass Writing Requirement through the Africa i-Parliaments Clinic. Drafters in the Intellectual Property Legislative Clinic and Health & Environmental Law Legislative Clinic may count the clinic toward the Concentration in Intellectual Property Law or the Concentration in Health Law. The Legislative Counsel Clinic does not count toward a concentration nor does it fulfill the upperclass writing requirement.

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How do I apply?

Students apply through the on-line application system available on the Clinical Programs website following the Clinical Programs Open House, which takes place each April. Applications are due at the end of April for participation in the following academic year.

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How do I find more information about the Legislative Clinics?

Interested students can learn more about the Legislative Clinics at the Clinical Programs Open House.  You are also welcome to contact Professor Bob Seidman at rseidman@bu.edu (Legislation Policy & Drafting Clinics), or Professor Sean Kealy at skealy@bu.edu (Legislative Counsel Clinic).

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