In the Spring 2015 issue of preLaw Magazine, the University of Idaho School of Law received an A- for practical training, which includes its clinics and internships. As a law student, you have many opportunities to apply teaching theory to practical legal practice. For example, third-year students who have earned their limited license to practice from the Idaho Supreme Court may represent clients in various courts under the supervision of a clinical school. Students can gain experience at the following six clinics. Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. provides legal advice to eligible Idahoers in the following areas: domestic violence; Upper; and housing. Click here to learn more. You can download the appropriate forms by visiting this website: www.courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/ We operate the Community Law Clinic as a small general law firm, similar to those found in rural communities across the country. We are the primary provider of legal assistance for our county, so the need for our services is great. At the Community Law Clinic, students deal with all aspects of the case. Every day, students meet clients who advocate for clients in negotiations and mediation, litigate before the courts, draft legal documents, write letters and emails, manage their paper and electronic files, document their work, and learn to keep track of their time through our case management program.
The goal of the Community Law Clinic is to train students to practice law effectively and become competent lawyers upon graduation and passage to the bar. “Working with Jessica is great! This makes the Community Law Clinic an enjoyable and rewarding learning experience. Clinic provides you with the tools to practice law that you will not get in any other course. It gives you the opportunity to work one-on-one with clients and handle a variety of cases. The clinic allows you to develop the important ability to draft a variety of legal documents in different areas of law. This practice is similar to cases involving the majority of Idaho attorneys. Most cases are small enough to be completed during the period that a student is participating in the clinic`s program. Some are more complex and have allowed students to participate in trials that last a week or more.
The Community Law Clinic, the College of Law`s only general practice clinic, provided legal assistance to 132 people in 2018. With 20 students working at the Community Law Clinic during the year, the clinic was able to provide free legal services in a variety of cases, including family law matters, landlord-tenant disputes, criminal defense, and debt collection defense. Students have also drafted wills, served as guardians ad litem in adult guardianship proceedings, and helped clients obtain orders to protect them from domestic violence. One student had the opportunity to obtain birth certificates for a woman who gave birth at home, and two students had the privilege of completing adoptions for two families. In our last week of the semester, students closed six files alone, including three divorce cases, two custody cases, and one guardianship appointment! In total, our students provided our community with approximately 2,700 hours of free legal work worth approximately $270,000 (if billed $100 per hour). Check out all of our topics to find the legal problem you need help with Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. helps seniors and low-income people (60 years and older) in Idaho with civil law issues. Our offices cannot assist in criminal cases. To determine if you qualify for assistance, see below. The clinical program aims to provide students with meaningful real-life experiences while providing quality legal services to underrepresented members of the community.
With approximately 40 cases still open, 2019 will be another busy year for the Community Law Clinic. One of our students also teams up with two students from our Boise site and a student from our mediation clinic to attend a global comparative conference representing a prisoner in his civil rights claims against prison and various prison guards. Students will also have the challenge of appearing for the first time before Lateh County, the new Idaho County Magistrate, Megan Marshall, who graduated from law school in 2011. The Community Law Clinic serves over 100 clients in 2018. Cooper Wright, a current student at the Community Law Clinic, shared the following about his experience: If you have questions about the Fair Housing Act and housing discrimination, call Idaho Legal Aid at 208-746-7541 or visit t.co/d1JXM5IxSI. t.co/MGVUbZM1ai Idaho Legal Aid hires from our Twin Falls and Idaho Falls offices. If you are interested in working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence or representing tenants in eviction courts, check out our job openings! t.co/JlCsMXotNE students at our Community Law Clinic represent clients who otherwise could not afford an attorney in a variety of cases, both in litigation (state and federal courts) and in non-litigation. These include: Rent and utility assistance is available to low-income families who are unable to pay their current rent or utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic or related economic crisis. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 Rental and Utility Assistance page in the COVID-19 Topics section Don`t let gender discrimination stop you from leaving the home of your choice.
If you have questions about housing discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or survivors of domestic violence, contact us at t.co/d1JXM5ruQI or 208-746-7541.t.co/mE1Uiu9dkg.