Vanderbilt's eight legal clinics allow students to learn both the theory and practice of law in context. Clinic students gain real-world legal experience by assuming the role of the lawyer under the expert guidance of members of the law faculty, allowing them to hone their legal skills and delve into particular areas of law. They work with actual clients and on real cases, gaining an understanding of the legal system and its participants and an appreciation of issues of professional responsibility.
Clinics are offered for academic credit on a pass/fail basis, and students may enroll for one or two semesters.
Read the Clinical Legal Education Program brochure
Clinics involve a significant time commitment. On average, clinic students are expected to devote approximately eight hours per week to casework, although workloads vary considerably from week to week.
Gain Substantive Legal Experience
Students in Vanderbilt’s clinics have won cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, obtained post-conviction relief on behalf of clients convicted of murder and other federal crimes, prosecuted trademark applications before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and appeared in every level of state, federal and administrative tribunal in the state of Tennessee.
