academics > clinics and externships

Oregon Law's popular clinics, externships, and practice-skills classes give students real-world experience with concepts learned in the classroom.

Courses such as Trial Practice Laboratory and Moot Court Competition offer structured role-playing exercises that hone professional lawyering skills. The judicial internship program develops legal analysis, research, and writing skills. Our clinics introduce advanced students to actual clients and cases through the supervised practice of law.

Child Advocacy Externships. Students in this externship work during the summer for Oregon juvenile court judges and practitioners. Those who work with judges do research, prepare for and observe all types of hearings in juvenile delinquency and dependency cases, as well as working on a major law reform project under the judge's direction. Students placed with practitioners are involved in all areas of the attorneys' practices.

Judicial Internships. Interns work for district and appellate federal courts, Oregon appellate courts, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Eugene. The judges include students in all aspects of their work, including settlement meetings, trials, and discussions in chambers.

Legislative Issues Workshop. Students are involved in research, bill tracking, report writing, committee presentation, and other tasks during the biennial sessions of the Oregon state legislature. Contact: Merv Loya

Civil Practice Clinic. Students represent low-income clients through Lane County Legal Aid. Cases may result in a court appearance or contested case hearing, often involving social security, welfare, food stamp, public housing, or unemployment benefits.

Criminal Defense Clinic. Students conduct client and witness interviews and investigations and help defend clients in a wide range of misdemeanor prosecutions in Oregon Circuit Court through Public Defender Services of Lane County.

Criminal Prosecution Clinic. Provides practical experience in the courtroom in one of the fast-paced district attorneys’ offices in Oregon. Students prepare and try minor criminal cases and may assist on felony cases.

Domestic Violence Clinic. Students work with Lane County Domestic Violence Clinic attorneys and client advocates to represent victims of domestic violence and stalking in contested protective order hearings.

Environmental Law Clinic. Working with the Western Environmental Law Center, students are advancing theories never before litigated in any American court. The emphasis is on intellectually challenging and creative work. The Environmental Law Clinic is open to some second-year students. All other clinics are open to third-year students only. Every qualified student who applies has an equal chance to participate through a lottery during the spring of second year.

Mediation Clinic. After mediation training, students spend one morning each week working in a local small claims court, helping disputants to search for nonlitigation solutions to their problems.

Small Business Clinic provides third-year law students with the opportunity to work with clients under the direct supervision of a practicing Oregon attorney. Clients of the Small Business Clinic can expect to receive top-quality legal services in an educational environment designed to provide students with the skills necessary to excel in the practice of law.