The latest evidence of legal education pushing toward experiential learning comes from the University of Miami School of Law, where two new clinics were recently announced in a school press release.
The Federal Appellate Clinic is a one-semester offering designed for upper-level students who will draft appeals for criminal defendants referred by the Federal Public Defender.
In the release, the clinic’s director, Professor Ricardo J. Bascuas, stressed that students will “advance their written advocacy and client communication skills” through the program. Miami law students will work collaboratively to produce appeals briefs.
The Tenants’ Rights Clinic will center on clients who are evicted from public and subsidized housing, receive Section 8 terminations, and have their housing applications denied. Through the clinic, students will serve tenants through all legislative housing steps, from research to drafts to representation. The clinic will also allow Miami’s Legal Services organization to aid more clients.
In this space, we’ve recently covered other initiatives at Miami Law that combine practical exposure for students with legal aid for the disadvantaged. In October, we touched on Miami’s development of fellowships to counsel homeowners in foreclosure cases. In December, we relayed the law school’s Hunger Project, which advocated policy reforms and led rights seminars.
