Clinic Descriptions

The Clinical Semester Program is open to students who will be 3 L Day students or 4 L Evening students who have completed the required prerequisites by the time of their program participation.  Evening students are eligible to enroll in full-time clinics if their schedules can accommodate a full-time commitment during the day.  Day students may enroll in the part-time ADR clinic, but Evening students will be given a preference for available spaces. Review carefully the prerequisites for each clinic in which you are interested.

Please note that clinics with insufficient subscription will be canceled after the lottery bidding process has been completed.

NOTE:No student shall be permitted to enroll in a full time clinic in the last semester of law school unless that student has earned at least a 2.60 cumulative grade point average by the beginning of the semester prior to the last semester in law school.

Students who enroll in the Children & Families Clinic, the Criminal Justice Clinic or the Environmental and Land Use Law Clinic may become authorized as Certified Legal Interns (CLIs).  Please carefully note the Florida Board of Bar Examiners (FBBE) new rule regarding the Certified Legal Internship (CLI) program if you are planning to participate in a clinical semester during your final year of law school.  Please file your bar application early, preferably your first year of law school, as you must receive an initial clearance letter from the FBBE to be eligible for the CLI program.  See additional Information located on the FBBE FAQ page at www.floridabarexam.org.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic (part-time - 8 credits)

The legal profession increasingly relies on alternative dispute resolution. The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Clinic provides student interns with ample opportunity to mediate and arbitrate while learning ADR options and improving communication skills. Students mediate or arbitrate cases that may include diversionary cases for juveniles arrested for misdemeanors; restitution mediation for victims and offenders; County Court mediation; community dispute mediation; and court-annexed arbitration. They may also assist with Teen Court by preparing teen-aged students serving as attorneys to “try” cases of alleged juvenile offenders. Prerequisites

Business Practice Clinic (full-time – 12 credits or part-time – 6 credits)

The Business Practice Clinic prepares students to enter the challenging field of business law. Clinic students have the opportunity to develop transactional skills, including planning, interviewing, counseling, negotiation, and drafting. Following the clinic’s instructional component, students are placed with a corporate law office, business law firm, or government/ administrative legal department where they are mentored by an experienced business law attorney.  Prerequisites

Children and Families Clinic (full-time – 12 credits or part-time – 6 credits)

The Children and Families Clinic focuses on the legal needs of individuals, with particular emphasis on the economically disadvantaged. Family law constitutes one of the primary components of civil practice, particularly for practitioners in small firms. Along with the Criminal Justice Clinic, this clinic provides the most extensive litigation experience. Key areas of legal representation include custody and divorce, benefits, employment, housing, and health. Students will serve as interns either in the in-house clinic, under the supervision of NSU Law professor-practitioners, or in a legal-aid or government office that provides legal assistance to children and families.  Prerequisites

Criminal Justice Clinic (full-time – 12 credits)

Many students practice in the area of criminal law immediately upon graduation from law school. Students enrolled in the Criminal Justice Clinic are schooled in the practical aspects of trial preparation and may participate in actual trials. Students have the opportunity to serve as interns in prosecutors and public defenders offices in South Florida and around the country. Prerequisites

Environmental and Land Use Law Clinic (full-time – 12 credits )

Protection of the environment is becoming an increasingly important area of law in both the public and private domains. Students in the Environmental and Land Use Law Clinic are exposed to the legal processes that define this area of law and explore issues such as growth management, comprehensive planning, land use, and environmental permitting. Clinical interns either work in-house on complex litigation matters under the supervision of NSU Law professor-practitioners or are placed with government offices or private law firms that specialize in environmental issues.

International Practice Clinic (full-time – 12 credits or part-time – 8 credits)

In recent years, the practice of law has become increasingly dominated by global concerns. Students enrolled in the International Practice Clinic explore key issues involving both public and private concerns, such as the impact of treaties, peacekeeping and human rights, intellectual property, and practical applications of international business regulations. Some clinic interns may be placed with international organizations devoted to humanitarian efforts.  Others might serve as interns in private law firms that specialize in international business law or students may choose to work in the area of immigration.  Prerequisites

Personal Injury Litigation Clinic (full-time– 12 credits)

The wide range of civil tort litigation reflects the diverse nature of modern personal injury practice. The Personal Injury Litigation Clinic provides students with opportunities to develop the lawyering skills needed in evaluating, preparing, settling, and trying personal injury cases. Students are exposed to various aspects of tort litigation, including client and witness interviewing, pleadings, discovery and motion documents, hearings, depositions, mediations, and trials. Prerequisites