Housing Law Clinic
Overview
Students in the Housing Law Clinic represent low-income tenants and homeowners from across the state of Tennessee in a wide variety of matters that directly impact their housing. Students defend clients in eviction and foreclosure actions, represent them in Fair Housing claims, work with local housing authorities to protect their federally subsidized housing benefits, and negotiate settlements with private landlords. Students also work directly with governmental and nonprofit agencies to create educational materials for tenants and homeowners and to effect state-level policy change affecting this vulnerable population.
Coursework and Design
Students in the Housing Law Clinic take primary responsibility and decision-making authority for their cases under the mentorship of the clinic faculty member.
The clinic provides a strong foundation in substantive housing law, including the Federal Regulations governing public housing benefits and subsidized housing, the Fair Housing Act, and the Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Classes are also taught on substantive subjects specific to representing low-income tenants and homeowners, including the impact on housing insecurity on families and children, the lack of adequate affordable housing options in Nashville, and the ways in which people of color are disproportionately impacted by evictions and foreclosures.
Ready to Rent
The Housing Law Clinic hosted a “Ready to Rent” Know Your Rights presentation for the residents of the Safe Haven Family Shelter.
Clinic Director
Jennifer Prusak
Associate Clinical Professor of Law
Jennifer Prusak directs Vanderbilt's Housing Law Clinic. Professor Prusak previously directed the Nonprofit Legal Clinic at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, a transactional clinic which she created and managed for six years, and served as faculty supervisor of Maurer’s Tenant Assistance Project. Before joining the clinical law faculty at Maurer, Professor Prusak was a staff attorney and an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow at Indiana Legal Services.
Have Questions?
Contact the Legal Clinic administrator.