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St. Mary’s University School of Law proudly offers three outstanding clinical courses for second and third year law students:

The Law School’s Clinical Courses are dedicated to educating students at St. Mary's and addressing the otherwise unmet legal needs of low-income people in San Antonio and South Texas.

Mission Statement

To provide a supporting learning environment for law students who, under the supervision of a faculty member, will be the attorney of record for indigent clients who are not adequately served by other providers.

Being a student attorney

Students gain practical, hands-on experience in all aspects of case-handling in each of the clinical courses under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney. They interview and counsel clients, investigate facts to obtain and organize evidence, draft legal documents, negotiate with opposing counsel and administrative agencies and try actual cases in district, county and administrative courts.

Serving the community

Students enjoy hands-on advocacy and guide their clients through the legal system by keeping them updated on their cases, explaining the applicable law, preparing them for trial and representing them in different forums. The clinical programs give students a direct opportunity to use their skills to aid individuals in critical need. Through their clinical work, students at St. Mary's provide significant service to the community by augmenting the legal resources available to serve the people in San Antonio and South Texas.

The commitment required

The clinical work at St. Mary's consists of a classroom component and a casework component. The classroom segment includes lectures, discussions, group exercises and simulations. In the classroom, students learn the substantive law and lawyering skills necessary for the effective and ethical handling of the cases. For their individual cases, students must commit a minimum of 15 hours per week to regular office hours and legal outreach, in addition to their classroom time.

How to join a Clinical Course

Each Spring, the Clinics hold informational sessions in the Raba building for two days. The dates of these sessions are posted at the law school and published in The Witan. Students are then asked to fill out an application and submit their resume by a set deadline. Sometime before and after Spring Break, students are asked to come in for interviews and to register on the TWEN Clinic Applicants Page. Students are normally notified by e-mail of their acceptance and can receive important information and announcements on the TWEN site.

How to volunteer at the Center for Legal & Social Justice

Student volunteers are an integral part of the work in the clinic. Anyone with an interest in learning more about the nuts and bolts of a public-interest law firm is eligible to apply to the Center’s program. Interested student volunteers should call or write requesting more information about the work of the clinics and how they can apply at the Center.

Volunteers are available to assist the student attorneys, faculty, and staff in a wide range of tasks related to casework, including copying, file organization, research, drafting, intake interviews, front desk management, and hand deliveries. Volunteers also have the opportunity to observe client interviews, visit outreach sites, and assist with other operational activities.

Available Pro Bono opportunities for law students

St. Mary’s University School of Law offers a number of pro bono opportunities for those students wishing to volunteer their time to assist disadvantaged individuals with legal issues. Students participating in these programs perform important legal work on behalf of individuals in San Antonio and Laredo, gain familiarity with the legal process, and provide much needed help to members of their community. In addition, students who meet certain criteria may be awarded a Pro Bono Achievement Award during their graduation ceremony. For more information on pro bono activities, and for information regarding careers in public interest law, please contact the Pro Bono Coordinator, Christopher Clapham.

Clinic Referral Line: 210-431-2596

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The Civil Justice Clinic Course

The Civil Justice Clinic Course engages students in many areas of the law:

• Community Education
• Consumer Law cases including deceptive trade practices, bankruptcy, landlord-tenant, contract disputes
• Family Law cases including divorces, child support and custody issues
• Outreach (Students hold office hours at homeless shelters, day centers, community centers, and transitional homes)
• Social Security Appeals
• Wills & Probate

Students are assigned to cases from different subject areas, getting a variety of experiences in civil practice. Through the Outreach component, students learn to develop practical problem-solving skills while utilizing local resources to help client overcome barriers. Students also engage in Community Education by making presentations on different topics at different sites.

Our clients

Our clients mainly come from the Outreach that students perform around the community. We also occasionally receive requests from the private bar or the judiciary.

Who can participate

• The Civil Justice Clinic is available to second and third year law students.
• Students can participate in the Summer for 3 credit hours. The summer session is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Enrollment in the Summer Clinic requires commitment for both summer sessions.
• Students can participate in the Fall/Spring for 8 credit hours. Students will be assigned their grades for both semesters at the end of the Spring semester. Enrollment in the Fall/Spring courses requires commitment for both semesters.

A Bar Card

A State Bar Practice Card is required to represent clients in State or Federal court. Students are eligible to receive their State Bar practice card after they have satisfactorily completed 45 hours of credit in law school, and are currently enrolled in clinic.

A State Bar practice card is not required to represent clients in administrative law proceedings and at Outreach sites.

What's New

The Civil Justice Clinic has recently started traveling to Laredo once a month to do Outreach at Laredo’s Bethany House. Students from the clinic and other law students are encouraged to attend.

The Immigration and Human Rights Clinic Course

The Immigration and Human Rights Clinic engages students in the representation of individuals in a variety of immigration and citizenship cases. Students perform all aspects of preparation for cases before the Immigration Courts and Department of Homeland Security, including interviewing clients, case organization, drafting pleadings and motions, preparing witnesses, appearing in court, and, if necessary, preparing appellate briefs for submission to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Individual representation includes working with:

• Refugees;
• Lawful permanent residents facing removal;
• Victims of domestic violence;
• Undocumented residents with family ties to the United States; and
• Claimants to citizenship

The classroom component of the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic course includes a practice-oriented examination of complex immigration law and specially tailored exercises and simulations designed to instill the basics of good legal practice. The classwork focuses on issues regularly encountered in the clinic's case work, allowing students an opportunity to analyze the legal and social impediments to their cases, as well as a chance to develop and reflect on the strategic choices they make.

Each semester clinical students also travel to Laredo, Texas, to provide immigration legal services to the traditionally-underserved residents of border communities. In coordination with other advocacy groups, students participate in periodic free legal clinics in Laredo with the goal of assisting immigrant victims of crime and domestic violence. These services include, but are not limited to, advising clients on their respective rights, processing legalization documentation, in-court representation on immigration matters and necessary follow-up services.

Who can participate

The Immigration & Human Rights Clinic is available to second and third year law students.

Students can participate in the Summer for 3 credit hours. The summer session is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Enrollment in the Summer Clinic requires commitment for both summer sessions. The Immigration & Human Rights clinic is not offered every summer session. Please check the course schedule for course offering.

Students can participate in the Fall/Spring for 8 credit hours. Students will be assigned their grades for both semesters at the end of the Spring semester. Students are required to have taken or be taking the Immigration Law Course to enroll in this clinic. Enrollment in the Fall/Spring courses requires commitment for both semesters.

A Bar Card

There is no State Bar practice card requirement. Federal rules permit law students to practice before the Immigration Court and Department of Homeland Security.

What's New

This year the law school hired a Clinical Fellow and the clinic will accept a greater number of students for the 2008-2009 school year. The clinic will be taught and supervised by Clinical Professor Lee Teran. Eric J. Tijerina serves as the Clinic Fellow for the 2008-2009 school year.

The Criminal Justice Clinic Course

The Criminal Justice Clinic Course provides legal services to indigent clients of all ages who are charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to capital offenses, including, but not limited to:

• Driving While Intoxicated
• Theft
• Assaults
• Graffiti
• Appeals
• Writs of Habeas Corpus

Who can participate

The Criminal Justice Clinic is available to third year law students only.

Students can participate in the Summer for 3 credit hours.

Students can participate in the Fall/Spring for 8 credit hours. Students will be assigned their grades for both semesters at the end of the Spring semester. Please note that the Criminal Justice Clinic does not accept students taking the February Bar Exam.

A Bar Card

Students enrolled in the course must obtain a State Bar practice card to represent clients in court.

What’s new

Anne Burnham has recently jointed the Criminal Justice Clinic Faculty. Prior to joining the faculty, Professor Burnham served as a briefing attorney on the Eighth Court of Appeals and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. She practiced as a criminal defense attorney in San Antonio, Texas in state and federal court.