Make a Real-World Impact
The USD Legal Clinics provide practical legal training to develop your skills beyond the confines of a classroom. Established in 1971, the USD School of Law clinical legal education program is one of the most effective client-facing programs on the west coast and has been a mainstay in the San Diego community. Students will learn real-world legal skills and graduate as practice-ready lawyers.
Pursue Your Specialization
Legal Clinics
Explore the wide array of clinics in our clinical program and take on real-world cases while still in law school. Under the guidance of our respected faculty, you'll gain practical experience by representing clients, preparing legal documents and engaging in advocacy.
From Classroom to Courtroom
Apply to the Legal Clinics
To apply to work at the Legal Clinics, complete the application below. You will be prompted to include a resume and an unofficial law school transcript. Applicants should log in to MySanDiego to view the online schedule for information on clinic meeting times as weekly class attendance is mandatory. After submitting the application, you should check your email regularly as you may be contacted by a clinical professor for an interview.
Making a Real Difference with Legal Advocacy
Community Impact
Discover how our efforts are making a measurable difference in the lives of individuals and communities and how we're contributing to the broader landscape of legal practice.
600+
Cases Closed
19,200+
Hours Logged
140+
Student Interns Trained
11,700+
Calls Received
Ranked third in call volume across USD.
600-700
Active Cases on Average
$3.37
million
The amount the Legal Clinics would have earned if we billed at a typical rate that a law firm might bill out for a law clerk.
A Hands-on Education
Hear from a former student about how working at the USD Education & Disability Clinic enhanced their legal education.
Contact the Clinics
With questions about the Legal Clinics or the application process, please feel free to reach out to our team. Remember that running the equivalent of a small law firm takes a lot of time and we may not be able to respond right away! We will, however, do our best to respond to you as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, taking two law school clinics simultaneously is not typically permitted. Students seeking to have two experiential courses should instead consider taking an externship and a clinic in the same semester. Your academic advisor is your best resource for further details regarding enrollment restrictions.
Participating in our pro-bono Legal Clinics, you can immerse yourself in a variety of specializations to sharpen real-world legal skills. You'll have the chance to represent clients from the beginning to the end of a legal matter, guided by a faculty mentor. Besides client representation, you can engage in legal research, community outreach and policy initiatives. Each clinic includes weekly seminars and dedicated office hours for in-depth learning.
It depends on how many credits you choose. Typically, each credit requires 50 hours of substantive work during each semester, including class time, client meetings, case work, research and consultation with professors. These requirements are manageable for most students, but you should consult your advisor before enrolling in a clinic.
The application process is simple. Just submit an online application using the provided link.
For any registration-related queries, you can reach out to Eric Austin at ericaustin-11@sandiego.edu
The Legal Clinics are located in Barcelona 301. You may come to the Legal Clinics during regular business hours for a guided tour.
Legal clinics follow a four-tier grading system, which includes High Pass (HP), Pass (P), Low Pass (LP), and No Pass (No Pass).
No. However, you can start taking a legal clinic the summer immediately following your first year of law school.
Yes. Some clinics have a structured volunteer program. However, students taking a legal clinic for academic credit are given enrollment priority. To volunteer, please submit an online application through the provided link. Structured volunteer program participants must commit to at least 50 hours per semester or summer session.
For each clinic, you must attend a mandatory weekly class meeting and schedule office hours during the week. Office hours are hours that you spend doing substantive legal work at the clinic and count toward the total hours required for the semester. Office hour requirements vary based on the clinic and your schedule.
Yes, we offer complimentary coffee, tea and Wi-Fi for our law students.
Yes, you can work on client cases remotely or at the Legal Research Center. The time worked remotely counts towards your required hours for the semester.
Most clinics typically have around five to six students per semester. Available seats vary. You should apply as early as possible, because some clinics may fill up quickly depending on demand.
Yes. LLM students are welcome to enroll in legal clinics, but we recommend consulting with your academic advisor.
Yes. Many students choose to continue working with the same clients for multiple semesters to see a case through to its final resolution.
Yes. The Workers’ Rights Clinic is available for one credit.
Yes. The Appellate Clinic is specifically designed for rising 3Ls.
During the summer session, the following clinics are available: Civil Clinic, Education & Disability Clinic, Entrepreneurship Clinic, Federal Tax Clinic, Immigration Clinic, State Sales & Use Tax Clinic, State Income Tax Clinic, Women's Clinic and Veterans Clinic.
No. During the summer session, you will have assigned clients who rely on your assistance and expertise. Accordingly, you cannot take a clinic while studying abroad during the summer session.
You must decide on the number of credit hours you wish to take by the end of the first week of classes to ensure a smooth registration process. Consult your advisor to determine the best enrollment plan.
Contact Us
To learn more about the USD School of Law Legal Clinics, give us a call at (619) 260-7470.