JOHN JAY LEGAL SERVICES, INC.

Information Regarding Participation in JJLS Client Representation Clinics, Externships, and Simulation  Programs  2007-08 Academic Year.

You must apply no later than Monday, April 23 at 5 pm.

PLEASE READ COURSE DESCRIPTIONS AND THIS MEMORANDUM CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.

 Application forms are available from the receptionist in 404 Preston . You may also print out a form from the JJLS website http://www.law.pace.edu/jjlsClinic%20Application%2007-08.doc.Please submit as many legible copies as the number of programs you are applying for, plus one.  If you have questions about the process, see Florie Friedman, Clinic Administrator, or Iris Mercado, Assistant Administrator).   

The following one-semester programs are being offered by John Jay Legal Services in the 2007-08 academic year.  Apply now for full year programs and one semester programs offered in the fall.

  Full Year Programs (These are client representation clinics)

  ONE SEMESTER PROGRAMS

Fall 2007

Spring 2008

  Course descriptions are on the JJLS webpage at www.law.pace.edu/jjls/clinic.html, www.law.pace.edu/jjls/externsh.html, and http://www.law.pace.edu/jjls/simulati.html and are included in your registration booklet. 

  Credit Allocation

The Law School, in order to comply with the New York Court of Appeals rules on admission to the bar, limits the number of clinical or non‑classroom credits that may be applied to the 84 credits required for graduation.  Of the 84 credits required for the JD degree, no more than 20 may be "clinical" credits.  The credit allocation for each program is divided between clinical credits awarded for field work and academic credits awarded for the classroom seminar component.  All clinical courses are graded, usually, with two separate grades awarded for the clinical and the academic components.  In addition, in the client representation programs we use a separate evaluation form to provide detailed feedback to students on their progress as developing lawyers. 

Time Commitments

Client representation clinics:  You will need to spend an average of 5 hours a week per clinical credit in addition to the seminar, for Clinic work.  You should expect periods of intense peak activity to alternate with inactive periods.  Some weeks the program will require much less time, and others much more.  The key is to keep open at least some days each week when you can devote most or all of your time to the clinical program.

  Externships:  While the externship program seminars generally meet in the late afternoon or evening, students must be able to work during the day at the externship sites.  All the externships require work at least 12 hours per week away from the Law School , except for the Family Court Externship, which requires 8 hours, i.e., one full day, in Westchester County Family Court and the Honors Prosecution Externship which requires 2 full days at the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. 

  A lawyer's obligations, like a doctor's, do not disappear on weekends and over holidays. STUDENTS IN CLIENT REPRESENTATION CLINICS AND EXTERNSHIPS MUST BE PREPARED TO CONTINUE HANDLING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES THROUGHOUT EXAM AND BREAK PERIODS.  The faculty will help you plan to minimize these conflicts, but it still may happen that a court appearance will cause you to miss a class or that a crucial meeting with an adversary will occur during a break.

Travel and Expenses

Externships by definition require time spent away from the law school.  Some placements are nearby; others may involve significant travel.  Clinic work sometimes requires travel for a court appearance, investigation or client or witness interview.  JJLS has limited funds to help defray travel expenses. 

Eligibility and Prerequisites

Unless otherwise stated, second-, third-, and fourth-year students in good academic standing and eligible to practice law under the Student Practice Order (having completed thirty credits as a part-time student or two semesters as a full-time student) may apply for any of the programs.  Preference will usually be given to students entering their final year of law school (third-year full-time, fourth-year part-time, students).

  If you are applying for more than one program, you must rank your preferences on the application form.  Generally, students will only be permitted to enroll in one JJLS program each semester.  If you decline an offered position, you will be permitted to enroll in another program only if all students who applied in a timely way have been accommodated.

  Please read course descriptions carefully and make sure that you have satisfied any necessary course prerequisites or requested a waiver on your application.

  All participants in JJLS client representation clinics and externship programs must avoid conflicts of interest based on past or concurrent employment (or volunteer work) situations.  If you have questions about a potential conflict, please consult Professor Flint.

Application Process

You must register for these courses in person at the Registrar's Office, or by telephone (422-4214) or e-mail ( bdonovan@law.pace.edu ), after obtaining permission of the professor.   In order to obtain permission for these courses you must do the following:

  1.      Submit a JJLS application form to the mail box of Florie Friedman, JJLS Clinic Administrator in 404 Preston . Application forms are available in 404 Preston or on the web http://www.law.pace.edu/jjls/Clinic%20Application%2007-08.doc.

  a.       Submit a copy of the application and attachments for each program that you are applying to, plus one additional copy.

  b.      Applications will be accepted in hard copy only.  Do not e-mail your application!

  2.      The deadline for applications is Monday, April 23 at 5 p.m. 

  3.      You will be contacted for an interview for each program you applied to.  (Interviews are not required for Pre-trial Civil Litigation Simulation).

  4.      You will be notified by e-mail of the professor's decision on or before May 18.  At that time, you will be asked to confirm your acceptance and will be allowed to register for the course. Qualified students who cannot be accommodated will be placed on a waiting list.

  5.      If you decline an offered position, you will be permitted to enroll in another program only if all students who applied in a timely way have been accommodated.

  6.      Students who apply after the deadline will be accepted only if there is space available after all students who applied in a timely way have been accommodated.

  IMPORTANT : By the time of your priority registration you will not have heard whether you have been accepted into a JJLS program.  You should register for the schedule that you would want if you are not accepted.  If you are later notified that you have been accepted into a JJLS program, you will be able to add, drop, and change your schedule without any penalty.

  NOTE:  These procedures do not apply to the Environmental Litigation Clinic, the Environmental Diplomacy Practicum or the Federal Judicial Honors Program which have their own application procedures.