The Appellate Practice Clinic engages students in representing underprivileged communities — such as persons afflicted with homelessness, immigrants, LGBTQ members and others — before state and federal appeals courts. In this clinic, you will learn how to perfect an appeal, author a brief and present an oral argument. The Appellate Clinic represents clients primarily before Ohio's Eighth District Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

The Community Advocacy Law Clinic provides students with the opportunity to use their legal training to address the unmet legal needs of the most vulnerable populations — low-income families, children, the elderly, the homeless and people suffering from physical and mental illness.
 
Under the supervision of clinical faculty, you will be given the opportunity to assist clients from beginning to end — intake, through research and strategy, informal advocacy or going to court.

You will work with judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, social workers and others to address the legal needs of real clients in a wide variety of matters, including:

•  Public benefits
•  Expungement
•  Name change
•  Child support
•  Consumer advocacy
•  Community development
•  LBGTQ advocacy
•  Human trafficking

The Pardon, Clemency and Expungement Clinic aims to help indigent individuals in Northeast Ohio continue to redefine themselves and their futures after a criminal conviction. A criminal conviction in Ohio can carry with it not only a stigma but real-life professional, educational and health-related impacts known as “collateral consequences” that effectively render individuals with a criminal conviction into a second-class citizenry. The goal of the clinic is to use multiple post-conviction remedies to help remove the stigmas and roadblocks facing individuals with criminal convictions.
 
Under the supervision of the director, you will represent individual clients seeking pardon or clemency from the Ohio governor, represent individuals seeking expungement of prior convictions and/or assist in petitions for other post-conviction relief. You will engage in each phase of representation, from client interviews to determining case strategies to drafting motions, petitions and applications before various municipal and county venues. Students are also encouraged to participate in Community Outreach events where they can meet potential clients and provide on the spot eligibility assessments.

The Transactional Law Clinic gives you the opportunity to gain experience as a business/transactional attorney. You will develop the problem-solving and practical judgment skills needed to be successful in general business practice. The clinic’s clients include individuals, for-profit start-up companies, community and economic development organizations, arts organizations and other individuals and entities that are devoted to improving northeastern Ohio. The clinic provides a wide range of advice and services in:

•  Tax
•  Corporate governance
•  Environmental law
•  Real estate
•  Corporate policies
•  Compliance with federal and state laws
•  Entity selection and formation
•  Estate planning and probate
•  Intellectual property
•  Minimizing risk through advice on institutional policies and practices
•  Contract drafting
•  Intellectual property advice and filings