Civil Litigation - Employment Law Clinic

Course Description

The Clinic represents individuals in claims of (1) employment discrimination underfederal, New York State and New York CIty Law; (2) violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (denial of leave and retaliation); and (3) violations of the minimum wage and overtime pay laws. Most of the Clinic cases are in federal court, although some are in state court or before state or city agencies.
 
The work that students do on Clinic cases spans the full range of litigation tasks performed by attorneys. These include meetings with the clients, interviewing witnesses, conferring with opposing counsel, taking depositions, and appearing in court for scheduling conferences, argument of motions, evidentiary hearings, trials, and appeals. Much of the fieldwork involves drafting documents such as pleadings, discovery requests, correspondence with opposing counsel and the court, deposition outlines, and briefs. Typically, two students work on each fieldwork case. However, more than two students may work on cases that are particularly complex or demanding.

The seminar component of the course deals with the substantive and procedural law related to Clinic cases. The goal is to give students the opportunity to experience and reflect on how the rules of civil procedure and the rules of evidence operate in the real world of federal litigation. Students participate in simulation exercises derived from a prior Clinic case. These exercises include initial and on-going case planning; drafting pleadings, discovery requests, motions and briefs; arguing motions; taking depositions; preparing for trial and performing trial work, including direct and cross-examination of witnesses.

Application Procedure

Students who are interested in taking the Clinic should submit the standard application, resume and transcript online through CAMS. The professor will schedule times for Zoom meetings with small groups of applicants who would like more information about the course and the opportunity to ask questions. She will also be available to meet individually with students who so wish. These meetings are not mandatory, and applicants are not selected based on attendance.

* 14 credits consisting of 3 clinical credits and 4 academic seminar credits each semester.