NYC Law Department Appeals Division Field Clinic

Catalog description

In this one-semester field clinic, offered both in the fall and spring semesters, students work in the Appeals Division of the New York City Law Department (also known as the Office of the Corporation Counsel). The Law Department serves as attorney and counsel for the City of New York and City agencies in all legal matters. The Appeals Division handles appeals from virtually all of the Law Department's litigating divisions and from all City agencies. Students spend 20 hours a week working at the Law Department, located at 100 Church Street (easily accessible via subway). The Appeals Division Field Clinic provides classroom instruction and clinical experience in effective appellate brief writing, legal research, and formulating persuasive legal arguments. Students are assigned real appellate cases to research and draft from start to finish on a variety of civil matters, including appeals from Article 78 proceedings, motions for summary judgment, abuse and neglect petitions, and juvenile delinquency orders. The draft briefs are carefully reviewed by supervising attorneys, who provide one-on-one feedback, and then students revise and re-submit their drafts. Completed briefs are filed in the appellate division and bear the name of both the law student and his or her supervisor. Students also have the opportunity to observe Appeals Division attorneys present oral arguments in the Appellate Divisions and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. This field clinic offers students a unique way to refine their writing and research skills while furthering their understanding of the appellate process and gaining practical work experience. There is a mandatory weekly seminar for students participating in this field clinic. Previously offered as LAW 7952C. Prerequisite(s): LAW 8004 may be taken as a prerequisite or corequisite.