Debtor Defense Clinic

Catalog description

The Debtor Defense Clinic is a semester-long, three-credit hour clinic in which two third-year students and two second-year students are eligible to participate. Students who have participated in the Clinic as second-year students are eligible to apply to participate as third-year students. The third-year students selected for the Clinic will engage in the types of activities permitted by the Nebraska Supreme Court's senior practice rule, including appearing in court on behalf of clients if necessary. Second-year students will function as paralegals who operate under the supervision of the supervising faculty member, and will interacts with clients, provide general information, work on legal issues, engage in outreach, and otherwise perform case-related tasks that do not require senior standing. The focus of the Clinic is to provide outreach, information, and representation to those involved in debt collection cases. Most of the clients with whom Clinic students will interact have already had judgments entered against them. Students will help such clients navigate their legal options post-judgment. Students may also file Chapter 7 bankruptcies on behalf of clients in appropriate cases, and perform any other activities assigned by the supervising faculty member. There is a weekly classroom component, which focuses on general matters regarding client representation, including motion practice, ethical issues inherent in 2L involvement and in 3L limited scope and extended representation of clients, substantive issues regarding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Nebraska debt collection law, and bankruptcy practice, among others.