Student Information

Committed to public service, the Pro Bono Litigation Clinic students provide legal services to clients who cannot afford or otherwise obtain legal services. Students are supervised at all times by licensed attorneys and must have completed the 1L curriculum (30 credit hours). Participating students will become practice-ready working directly with clients on real cases. Experiences available to Pro Bono Litigation Clinic students include:

  • Appearing in court, mediation, and administrative hearings
  • Engaging in negotiations with opposing parties
  • Interviewing clients
  • Drafting legal documents, including complaints, answers, briefs, substantive motions, and memos
  • Interacting with other attorneys, judges, and professionals

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The Basic Pro Bono Clinic provides students an opportunity to represent clients and conduct intake interviews in a variety of practice areas, including but not limited to human trafficking, landlord/tenant, civil rights, police misconduct, foreclosure defense, small claims, actual innocence, prisoner’s rights, and breach of contract. Students taking the Basic Pro Bono Clinic must register for both the class and clinic components. Student can choose between two sections for their class component.

Section 1: General/Federal Litigation
Represent clients and conduct intake interviews in a variety of practice areas, including actual innocence, appeals, breach of contract, civil rights, foreclosure defense, police misconduct, prisoners’ rights, and small claims in state and federal court, as well as cases involving federal litigation, including depositions, discovery, trial preparation and trial.

Section 2: State/Civil Litigation
Provide direct legal representation in state and civil matters, including foreclosure cases for clients living in Cook County, Cook County victims of human trafficking, and/or transgender individuals who are faced with the task of changing their names and identification documents.

Advanced Pro Bono Clinic

Students who have previously taken the Basic Pro Bono Clinic can register for the Advanced Pro Bono Clinic.