First Amendment Clinic

Catalog description

Students represent clients in litigation matters focusing on the First Amendment and the public's right to know how their government operates. The focus of the work will be enforcing rights under state and federal freedom of information laws, civil rights litigation involving First Amendment rights (particularly free expression and newsgathering rights), and potentially matters involving First Amendment defenses, such as subpoena defense or defamation defense. Students will gather facts, interview clients, conduct discovery, draft briefs, handle any settlement conferences/discussions, and advocate at hearings and trials. There is heavy emphasis on oral and written advocacy, civil procedure, strategic case planning, and professional conduct. Weekly two-hour seminars will be supplemented by individual meetings with student teams to discuss their case work.