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Law School’s clinical offerings and externships ‘put students front and center’

September 07, 2020

Students who choose to participate in one of the nine clinics offered by the Gittis Center for Clinical Legal Studies at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School embrace the challenges and reap the rewards of serving real clients with real problems. Unlike at many schools, Penn Law clinic students serve as lead counsel on their own cases rather than merely supporting the work of faculty.

“The hallmark of the Penn clinical experience is that we put students front and center,” said Practice Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Clinical Education Praveen Kosuri. “Students own their cases. They have to establish the relationship with the client and do the fact gathering. We’re not spoon-feeding it to them. Just like in real life, they have to figure out what they need to figure out to serve the client.”

At the Law School, accomplished and dedicated faculty support students every step of the way in the following clinics:

In addition to these nine clinics, students may also pursue externships through the Gittis Center for Clinical Legal Studies’ Externship Program, which consists of more than 15 standing Gittis Externships. Students may also create their own ad hoc externships with government or nonprofit organizations of their choosing.

“What we teach across the board is problem-solving,” said Kosuri. “Maybe the best solution to a client’s problem is rooted in the law, but maybe it’s not — we want students to see the full range of possibilities and not just be confined to the narrow world of law. That’s just not how it works in real life.”

Read more about the Law School’s clinical offerings and externship opportunities.