Frequently Asked Questions
Clinical Programs
What is a clinical program?
A clinical program is a teaching method integrating theory with hands-on legal training. In the clinics, students perform the work of professional attorneys, representing clients in real cases, from initial interview to courtroom summation. Students are supervised by experienced practitioners and clinical faculty members who are experts in their fields. Many alumni have found that they received more direct client contact and courtroom exposure through the clinics than they did in their first years of practice!
What types of clinics are offered?
Our core offerings include clinics in the areas of criminal law, civil litigation and legislation. Within those core areas, students will find great opportunities related to health law, intellectual property, asylum law, human rights, housing law, family law, and many other subjects. We also offer several externship programs, where students work in a wide variety of field placements in the government, judiciary, and non-profit organizations.
To participate in a clinic, do I need a career commitment to the area of law covered in that clinic?
No. We are very excited when students take a clinic to gain experience in an area of law they wish to pursue as a career. We encourage all students, however, to take a clinic regardless of their future plans. The skills students gain in every clinic are transferable to many other areas of practice and allow students to hit the ground running when they begin their legal careers. Feel free to contact a CDO counselor about how a clinical program might fit into your career goals.
What is the time commitment of the clinics and how many credits will I receive?
The hours of work each week and number of credits awarded vary from clinic to clinic. Generally, most students can expect to spend at least 12 hours a week performing fieldwork. In addition, each clinical program has at least one accompanying seminar, where students learn skills and legal theory related to their clinical work. Most clinics award around six credits per semester for the fieldwork and seminar, although some clinics award more. Please see information about specific clinics to learn more about work loads and credits.
Can I do a journal and a clinic?
Yes, but clinics are time consuming and journals are too. Think about your obligations and be realistic in planning your work load for your 2L and 3L years.
Can I do more than one clinic while I am at BU Law?
Yes, but you may participate in only one clinic each semester (unless you obtain permission from the clinic directors). Be aware that some clinics give priority for acceptance to students who have not yet taken a clinic. If there is a clinic you wish to take as a 3L, be sure to check the information for that clinic to make sure that participation in another clinic as a 2L will not affect your chances of being accepted into the clinic as a 3L.
Is there a maximum number of clinical credits I can take during my time at BUSL?
Students may receive a maximum of 16 non-GPA credits during their time at BU Law. Non-GPA credits are awarded for the fieldwork portion of the externship programs. Other activities for which you receive non-GPA credits include: study abroad programs, part-time externships, working on a journal, and credit for a class at another school in BU (such as a class at the Graduate School of Management), to name a few. The fieldwork portion of the in-house clinics, for example the Civil Litigation Program, Criminal Clinical Programs and Legislative Clinics, are graded and therefore do not count toward the 16 non-GPA credit maximum. Students wishing to exceed the 16 non-GPA credit maximum must petition the Academic Standards Committee for approval.
In addition, please check the rules of the state where you are intending to take the bar. New York, for example, has a 20 credit cap on number of credits that may be awarded for clinical courses or other legal training.
Should I participate in a clinic as a 2L or a 3L?
2L and 3L students are equally welcome to take the clinics. Students may take a clinic in both their 2L and 3L years, but because the clinics are time consuming, students should plan carefully to make sure that their clinic schedule does not prevent them from taking too many of the classes that they find most interesting. Which year you take a clinic depends mainly on your own workload. For some clinics, participating as a 2L has some additional benefits. For example, students who participate in the Legislation Policy & Drafting Clinics in their 2L year will have two semesters to participate in the role of editor. 2L students in the Criminal Law Clinic participate on a more intensive track than 3L students.
Do I need top grades to be accepted into a clinic?
No. Acceptance to the clinics is not merit based and your grades do not factor into your acceptance. Most clinics pick students based on class year (priority is given to 3L students), and then 2L students generally are selected by lottery.
Do any of the clinics count toward a concentration?
Yes. If you want to concentrate in litigation and dispute resolution, you must take one of three clinical programs: Civil Litigation Program, the Criminal Law Clinic, or the Legal Externship Program. A litigation-based placement in the Health Law Externship may also count toward the concentration in litigation and dispute resolution. Participation in the Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics may count toward the concentration in intellectual property law or health law. Participation in the Health Law Externship counts toward the health law concentration..
Can I fulfill my professional responsibility requirement by participating in a clinic?
Yes. The classroom components of the Civil Litigation Program, Criminal Law Clinic, and Legal Externship Program satisfy the professional responsibility requirement.
How do I decide which clinic to take?
Factors you may think about in choosing a clinic include: the fieldwork experience of each program, the class component of each program, whether the program is one or two semesters, whether you want to do a clinic in your second or third year, and whether you want to use the clinical experience as one of BU Law's concentrations.
How do I apply for a clinic?
Students apply each April for participation in the following academic year. The easy on-line application will be available on the Clinical Programs website following the Clinical Programs Open House. .
How do I find out about clinics?
Handouts pertaining to each clinic are available in the reception area of the Clinical Programs Office on the 12th floor. Feel free to stop by! In addition, the directors of each program are happy to talk to you about any questions you might have:
| Program | Contact | Office | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Programs Office | Lois Knight | lclinic@bu.edu | 1224 | 353-3148 |
| Africa i-Parliaments Clinic | Sean Kealy | skealy@bu.edu | 1220A | 353-8373 |
| Civil Litigation Program - Housing, Employment, Family & Disability | Robert Burdick | rburdick@gbls.org | 1224D | 353-3148 |
| Civil Litigation Program - Asylum & Human Rights | Susan Akram | sakram@gbls.org | 1240A | 353-3148 |
| Judi Diamond | jdiamond@gbls.org | 1224B | 353-3148 | |
| Civil Litigation Program - Employment Rights Clinic | Mary Connaughton | mconnau@bu.edu | 1240B | 353-3148 |
| Criminal Law Clinic | David Rossman | drossman@bu.edu | 1120G | 353-3131 |
| Health Law Externship Program | Ben Moulton | bwmoulton@gmail.com | ||
| Legal Externship Program | Lois Knight | lknight@bu.edu | 1224A | 353-3148 |
| Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinics | Robert Seidman | rseidman@bu.edu | 1120B | 353-3140 |
| Legislative Internship Program | Sean Kealy | skealy@bu.edu | 1220A | 353-8373 |
| Legislative Counsel Clinic | Sean Kealy | skealy@bu.edu | 1220A | 353-8373 |
| Semester-in-Practice Program | Lois Knight | lclinic@bu.edu | 1224 | 353-3148 |