Ryan Moore '25
Law Weekly Historian
To be completely honest, I had no idea what a clinic was when I was assigned this article. As a first-generation law student, a law school clinic sounded like where one would seek medical treatment for drinking too much library coffee. So I am glad I attended the Experiential Learning Fair last Tuesday, which featured representatives from all twenty-four of the clinics UVA Law has to offer. Additionally, members of the Externships Program, different skills courses, and Student Records were there to answer all my questions. Overall, the fair is designed to introduce students to clinics, which help them to develop their much-needed professional skills before entering real world legal practice. I now have a much better sense of the role clinics will play in our 2L life.[1]
1. What are clinics?
Clinics offer law students the opportunity to develop practical skills under the mentorship of experienced lawyers. Students work with real clients under the direction and mentorship of practicing lawyers. There is a classroom component as well. In addition to real cases, students attend classes to develop professional practice skills and discuss any issues that arise in their cases.
There are two main styles of clinics: yearlong and semester-long. When comparing different clinic options, be sure to check if a yearlong clinic conflicts with both the fall and the spring semester classes you want to take. Some clinics might not conflict with a fall semester class, but come spring semester, you may be unable to take a class you really want.[2]
UVA currently offers twenty-four clinics, ranging from prosecution/defense to international human rights law to youth advocacy.[3] As I was attending the fair, I was overwhelmed with the variety of choices. With so many clinic options to choose from, there is something of interest for everyone.
2. Why join a clinic?
Clinics are an opportunity for law students to get a taste of what being an actual lawyer is like. Students often hear from practicing attorneys that law school is nothing like practicing law. However, in a clinic, law students represent actual clients and do real legal work that changes lives. Kiera Goddu ’24, who is enrolled in the Health and Disability Law Clinic, says, “In the wake of Dobbs, this [clinic] might be one of the most timely clinics you can join.” Goddu notes that the Health and Disability Law Clinic offers students the opportunity to both represent individual clients and to conduct impact litigation that improves the health and wellness of all Virginians.
3. How are clinics graded?
Clinics are either a letter grade, credit/no credit, or “honors/pass/fail.” Yearlong clinics are credit/no-credit for the first semester, but that grading changes in the second semester. For the second semester, students receive either a letter grade or honors/pass/fail. Semester-long clinics can be graded either with a letter grade or honors/pass/fail. Be aware that letter grades for yearlong clinics are not based solely on second-semester performance. Professors grade based on a student’s “preparation for and engagement in clinic work throughout [the year].”[4]
Controversially, some clinics are graded on a curve.[5] This seems like an odd choice, given the fact that every student in a clinic is on the same team, fighting for the same outcomes, for the same clients. Coming from a background in academia, the grading curve always has been, and always will be, a weird practice. I approached a 2L about this concern and they gave me a useful tip: Students can check how a clinic grades on LawWeb. Each course description contains a section stating if the clinic uses letter grades or not.
4. How do students enroll in a clinic?
Every 2L and 3L I talked to at the fair expressed how lucky us 1Ls have it, because apparently the old way of enrolling in clinics was a pain. Now, students enroll in a clinic lottery process well in advance of our regular course lotteries. Like other courses, students rank clinics in order of interest. Students can rank as many clinics as they want, but some clinics also require a separate application, which is submitted directly to the clinic’s directors. Student Records then runs a lottery to fill clinic seats based on student rankings. Students can participate in only one clinic per semester and will be enrolled in their chosen clinic before selecting the remainder of their semester classes. Any remaining clinic seats are opened up during the open enrollment period after course selection.
While most clinics are open to both 2Ls and 3Ls, be aware that some clinics requiring court appearances are only open to 3Ls. The deadline to submit applications for fall semester and yearlong clinics are due no earlier than the last Monday in June; spring semester clinic applications are due no earlier than the last Monday in September.[6]
5. What clinics am I interested in?
Thanks for asking! After attending the Experiential Learning Fair and researching for this article, I think I am most interested in the State and Local Government Policy, Appellate Litigation, and Criminal Defense clinics. State and Local Government Policy offers students the opportunity to work directly with state and local legislators to draft and provide input on pending legislation around Virginia. The Appellate Litigation clinic is vaguely similar to the 1L Legal Research and Writing course, which I have loved.[7] And the Criminal Defense clinic offers 3Ls the opportunity to work on three actual misdemeanor cases.
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tqy7zz@virginia.edu
[1] At least I hope so…
[2] Before I graduate, I WILL take Privacy with Professor Danielle Citron.
[3] https://www.law.virginia.edu/clinics.
[4] https://www.law.virginia.edu/clinics/faqs-about-clinics.
[5] Yes, I can read the UVA Law subreddit too.
[6] https://www.law.virginia.edu/clinics/faqs-about-clinics.
[7] Although ask me again after oral arguments in April.