Russ Pearce


CHOOSING A CLINIC

IT'S TIME TO TAKE IT to the next level. The real cases and matters you work on in the clinic challenge you with their complexity, variety and depth. The rigorous habits of mind you developed in your first year blossom as you and your clinical colleagues find creative and meaningful solutions to the challenging, multidimensional, and highly textured legal problems people face. Solving problems in the real world challenges your logical intelligence, but it also challenges your interpersonal intelligence. Interviewing your client, you integrate all you have learned to ask the questions in the right form, take the conversation in the right direction, and accomplish all you need to get it right.

With 14 practice areas to choose from, Fordham Law’s Clinical program offers a wealth of options to gain essential lawyering skills. Each of the clinical offerings will provide you with an opportunity to develop professional judgement and legal skills in a real practice setting.



Listen to Prof. Maresca talk about the Clinical Program (MP3).

You can approach choosing a clinic in three different ways:
  • You can choose a clinic that permits you to develop valuable, transferrable skills while adding significant accomplishments to your resume.  The clinic offers practice in civil or criminal cases, in matters before state and federal courst or administrative agencies, and in litigation, arbitration or mediation.
  • You can view the clinic as a way to provide legal service to the community as you develop your skills as a lawyer.   The clinic allows you to work on these issues through work with individual clients, impact litigation, community advocacy and legislative law reform.
  • You can see the clinic as an exciting chance to explore new territory.  If you think you are destined for corporate practice, try litigation. If you are intrigued by criminal law, but have done no work in that area, test the depth of your interest. If you are set on a career in litigation, try the alternative means of problem-solving by arbitration or mediation.

Whatever your choice, the Clinic's emphasis on the educational development of each student will permit you to discover the talents that emerge in the practice of law in a supportive environment that holds high expectations for your success.