Picture of Professor Kim Connolly teaching a clinical course to a small group of law students.

Get Hands-On Experience through Diverse Law School Clinics

Published January 13, 2021

Photo of Lindsay Gladney, Vice Dean for Admissions.

Guest blogger Lindsay Gladney is the Vice Dean for Admissions at UB School of Law. 

The University at Buffalo School of Law’s Clinical Legal Education program gives students the chance to put their learning into practice. Offering a diverse set of more than ten clinics ranging from civil rights to environmental and animal law, UB School of Law’s clinics not only help students get invaluable experience in prospective practice areas, but they offer them a chance to have a positive and direct impact on the community.

Put Your Knowledge into Practice

You know what they say—practice makes perfect. There’s no better way to put your law skills to the test than by applying for one of UB School of Law’s clinics. Alongside skilled attorneys who help supervise the process, upper-class students will work in one of many diverse offerings to hone their experience and work on cutting-edge issues and complex subject matters.

Discover 11 Diverse Clinics

Access to Justice Hybrid Clinic
This clinic focuses on making strides to ensure equal access to the justice system and allows students to participate in skills training and write about a social justice/access to justice topic of their choosing.

Animal Law Clinic
Student attorneys work on a national, state and local policy level to address animal welfare issues involving puppy mills, feral and community cats, as well as former race horses.

Civil Rights & Transparency Clinic
This is a litigation clinic focused on civil rights and liberties, spanning constitutional liberties like free speech, privacy, due process and statutory civil rights against discrimination.

COVID Law & Community Engagement Clinic
This new offering was created in response to the urgent and everchanging legal needs arising from the disruptions cause by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic
Students will gain the opportunity to advocate for criminal justice reform on behalf of incarcerated individuals and those facing criminal charges in Western New York.

Environmental Advocacy Clinic
Focus on state, national and international environmental policy issues that have a direct impact on Western New York but also national and international implications.

Entrepreneurship Law Center
Provide legal services to entrepreneurs and start-up businesses who are not yet ready or able to engage outside legal counsel.

Family Violence & Women’s Rights Clinic
Join the fight towards attaining justice and safety for victims of intimate partner violence.

Mediation Clinic
Focus on conflict resolution and help resolve disputes in family law, small claims and the greater community.

Puerto Rico Recovery Assistance Legal Clinic
Provide practical legal research and thoughtful pro bono service to empower a resilient Puerto Rico.

U.S.-Mexico Border Clinic
This intensive study involves two weeks covering refugee and asylum law and practice in Buffalo, followed by one week in the South Texas Family Detention Center in Dilley, Texas. *Please note this clinic is on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Request an appointment:

Learn more about the law school admissions process and School of Law community through an individual meeting with one of our staff members.

[Learn More]

How Law Clinics Make an Impact

There’s no denying the boon to a law student’s education that a practical law clinic can have. Real-world experience engages students to use their classroom skills to adapt, be creative and serve clients with all the resources at their disposal. But that is only one side of the coin! UB School of Law’s clinics allow students an outlet to perform fantastic work, benefitting a vast swath of legal areas in the Western New York Community.

For example, students that participate in the Criminal Justice Advocacy clinic will be involved in direct representation in individual cases, helping to amplify the voices of clients and potentially see them be resentenced. Those who take part in the Environmental Advocacy Clinic can see their efforts assist legal issues involving wetland importance and local sustainable and regenerative laws.

The University at Buffalo’s School of Law Clinics bring classroom learning and legal practice together, giving students a fantastic opportunity to engage in their community and see first-hand the impact their work can have. For more information on all the clinics offered, visit our Clinical Legal Education page.

Additional Resources

University at Buffalo School of Law Clinical Legal Education page
Law Clinics - School of Law - University at Buffalo

2021 Law Clinics (Video breakdown)
Law Clinics that are available for Spring 2021 - YouTube

Photo of Lindsay Gladney, Vice Dean for Admissions.

Guest blogger Lindsay Gladney is the Vice Dean for Admissions at UB School of Law. 

CONTACT US

Office of Admissions
University at Buffalo School of Law
408 O'Brian Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260
716-645-2907
law-admissions@buffalo.edu

Request an appointment:

Learn more about the law school admissions process and School of Law community through an individual meeting with one of our staff members.

[Learn More]

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