Housing Justice Field Clinic

Catalog description

The Housing Justice Field Clinic, taught by attorneys from the Civil Practice at The Legal Aid Society, will include hands-on experience with Legal Aids Bronx Housing Justice Unit, as well as a seminar component. In the fieldwork component of the clinic, students will work with both staff and supervising attorneys in Legal Aids Bronx Neighborhood Office and Bronx Housing Court to assist in representing low-income tenants in non-payment and holdover eviction proceedings. In the seminar, students will hone skills developed in the field and learn about the challenges and indignities experienced by low-income and poor New Yorkers living in market rate, regulated, and subsidized rental housing. Field clinic students will learn about the Right to Counsel program established by New York City Council in 2017 a growing program in which law graduates and new lawyers are in high demand as well as substantive housing law through training sessions put on by Legal Aids Civil Training Team. Working alongside Tenant Defense attorneys, students will hone issue spotting and litigation skills with opportunities to assist with client interviewing, drafting pleadings, motions, and settlement agreements, and appearing in court under Legal Aids student practice order. Students will also gain exposure to rental subsidies, rent arrears grants, and public benefits that can be accessed on behalf of clients to keep them in their homes and preserve affordable housing in New York City. Corequisite(s): LAW 8010 .