Course Descriptions

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Family Law Clinic I (Formerly Women's Legal Clinic I) (LWVL583)

Instructor(s): Meredith Levin

2-4 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Recommended Class(es): Family Law, Human Trafficking

Students gain practical training and real world experience through representation of individual clients on a variety of legal issues. The clinic will initially serve the family law needs of survivors of human trafficking in a variety of representative matters including: domestic violence restraining orders, child custody, and dissolution. Students provide advice, identify potential legal issues, and in some cases are able to advocate for clients in court proceedings. Weekly class seminar meetings are combined with individual case conferences to provide intensive personal training in litigation techniques, legal strategy, case management and client-centered lawyering. The classroom component also includes an overview of applicable law and procedure necessary to assist clients in family law matters. Recommended: Family Law, Human Trafficking. The clinic is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis.

Students interested in working in the clinics for either academic credit or as a volunteer must first fill out and submit the USD Legal Clinics Application for Law Students . Clinic staff will review your application and confirm enrollment. 

Family Law Clinic II (Formerly Women's Legal Clinic II) (LWVL584)

Instructor(s): Meredith Levin

1-4 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential

Clinic II interns refine their skills, working on complex cases and cases already begun as Clinic I interns. Students may mentor first time clinic participants, serve as lead attorney on cases, and have additional opportunities to appear in court or administrative proceedings. Supervising attorneys/adjunct professors provide individualized coaching, based on the Clinic II interns’ needs and interests. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Clinic I in the same clinic. The clinic is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis.

Students interested in working in the clinics for either academic credit or as a volunteer must first fill out and submit the USD Legal Clinics Application for Law Students . Clinic staff will review your application and confirm enrollment. 

Federal Litigation & Civil Rights Clinic I (Formerly Civil Clinic I) (LWVL522)

Instructor(s): Katherine Parker

2-4 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Civil Litigation (JD)
Prerequisite(s): Civil Procedure

Note:

There are limitations on JD concentration eligibility. Please check the Civil Litigation Concentration web page for more information.

Federal Litigation & Civil Rights Clinic II (Formerly Civil Clinic II) (LWVL523)

Instructor(s): Katherine Parker

1-4 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Civil Litigation (JD)
Prerequisite(s): Federal Litigation & Civil Rights Clinic I

Clinic II interns refine their skills, working on complex cases and cases already begun as Clinic I interns. Students may mentor first time clinic participants, serve as lead attorney on cases, and have additional opportunities to appear in court or administrative proceedings. Supervising attorneys/adjunct professors provide individualized coaching, based on the Clinic II interns’ needs and interests.

Students interested in working in the clinics for either academic credit or as a volunteer must first fill out and submit the USD Legal Clinics Application for Law Students . Clinic staff will review your application and confirm enrollment.

Note:

There are limitations on JD concentration eligibility. Please check the Civil Litigation Concentration web page for more information.

Federal Tax Clinic I (LWVL555)

Instructor(s): Richard Carpenter

2-4 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Taxation (LLMUS), LLM in Taxation (LLMT)
Prerequisite(s): Tax I

This is a hands-on clinical course for students who wish to develop tax controversy skills. Students working under the supervision of the Tax Clinic supervising attorney will represent low income taxpayers in resolving their tax disputes with the IRS. Students will learn client interviewing skills, how to interact with IRS personnel, and how to effectively resolve a client’s federal tax dispute. Students must also be available to participate in Tax Clinic Outreach presentations at various community locations and times. The clinic is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis. 

Students interested in working in the clinics for either academic credit or as a volunteer must first fill out and submit the USD Legal Clinics Application for Law Students . Clinic staff will review your application and confirm enrollment. 

Additional Information: LLM in Taxation

Federal Tax Clinic II (LWVL556)

Instructor(s): Richard Carpenter

1-4 credit(s), H/P/L/F Graded
Requirement(s): Experiential
Concentration(s): Taxation (LLMUS), LLM in Taxation (LLMT)
Prerequisite(s): Tax I

Clinic II interns refine their skills, working on complex cases and cases already begun as Clinic I interns. Students may mentor first time clinic participants, serve as lead attorney on cases, and have additional opportunities to appear in court or administrative proceedings. Supervising attorneys/adjunct professors provide individualized coaching, based on the Clinic II interns’ needs and interests. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Clinic I in the same clinic. The clinic is graded on a 4-tier Pass-Fail basis. 

Students interested in working in the clinics for either academic credit or as a volunteer must first fill out and submit the USD Legal Clinics Application for Law Students . Clinic staff will review your application and confirm enrollment.