Student Information
The Fair Housing Legal Support Center & Clinic, a Qualified Fair Housing Organization, is an integral part of the Law School's experiential education. In 1985, the Law School partnered with the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities to provide law students with externship experiences working on fair housing cases in a clinical setting. These externships transitioned in house in 1993 and established the Fair Housing Legal Clinic, staffed with full-time attorneys and support personnel, to represent victims of housing discrimination.
That same year the Clinic established a testing program to facilitate case development and enforcement of the Fair Housing Act as well as state and local statutes, regulations, and ordinances. The Clinic works closely with local fair housing agencies and organizations and collaborates with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, a Fair Housing Assistant Program (FHAP) agency to combat the problem of housing discrimination in the service area.
For more than 20 years, the Clinic has served clients in the Chicago metropolitan area who have been illegally denied housing because of discrimination under federal, state, and local fair housing laws and ordinances. These are individuals who would not otherwise have access to an attorney. The Clinic is also committed to and engaged in community outreach activities to inform consumers about fair housing law and the services available through the Clinic.
For more information, please contact Allison K. Bethel, Clinic Director, at allisonb@uic.edu.
Align Courses with Fair Housing Legal Clinic Heading link
Second and third-year law degree candidates are eligible to gain clinical experience and earn academic credit at the Fair Housing Legal Clinic located at 19 W. Jackson Boulevard. Over the past 20+ years, hundreds of law students have recognized the value of a practical internship experience. Many of the Clinic alums have gone on to establish successful careers working in private practice, the government or nonprofit agencies or organizations.
Related Courses
Students engaging with the Fair Housing Clinic for the first time should enroll in the Basic Fair Housing Clinic and must register for both the class and clinic components. Students who have previously taken the Basic Fair Housing Clinic can register for the Advanced Fair Housing Clinic. The advanced clinic may be repeated.
Basic Fair Housing Clinic
- Clinic: Fair Housing Class (JD 539/RE 539, 2 Credits)
- Clinic: Fair Housing Clinic (JD 541/RE 541, 3 Credits)
Advanced Fair Housing Clinic
- Clinic: Fair Housing Clinic Advanced (TADR 547/RE 547, 3 Credits)
If you have any questions about the clinic and how an internship may broaden your law school experience, please contact Clinic Director Allison K. Bethel at at allisonb@uic.edu.