Programs Beyond the Classroom

Clinical Education

The Law School recognizes that clinical education is an important part of a student's law school education. There are several clinical programs available for students who wish to develop important professional skills, such as interviewing, counseling, negotiation and trial advocacy.

For further information regarding the Child Advocacy Clinic, Criminal Justice Clinic, Economic Development Clinic, Housing Rights Clinic, Immigrant Defense Clinic, Political Asylum Clinic, Securities Arbitration Clinic, and Mediation Clinic, see the course descriptions for these programs in the Catalog.

Skills Related Courses

Beginning with the entering class of 2009 (full-time) and 2010 (part-time), every Hofstra law student will be required to complete at least two-credits in skills-related course(s) as part of the student’s graduation requirements. A wide-variety of skills related courses are offered during the Fall and Spring semester, as well as in intensive format during the winter intersession and during the summer. The list of courses that will satisfy the skills requirement is listed in each semester’s registration materials. To learn more about these courses, students should consult the individual course descriptions in the Catalog (in print or online).

Externship Program

The Externship Program offers students the opportunity to earn academic credit as they are gaining practical legal experience by working each week in an externship placement with judges, a variety of governmental agencies, including prosecutor, public defender, legal services and not for profits groups, or with corporate offices or private firms through specialty placements such as the Nassau County Bar Association Externship. The program goal is to have students develop lawyering skills in real-life situations under the supervision and guidance of experienced practitioners and full-time faculty.

Students enrolled in the program during the school year must commit to 12-15 hours per week at their assigned offices, attend a weekly seminar and produce a minimum of 25 pages of supervised written work. The summer program has the same requirements, although students commit to 21-24 hours per week over an eight week period.

Interested students should see the course description in the Catalog, and should contact Vernadette Horne, Career Counselor, at lawvhh@hofstra.edu, for more information.

Pro Bono Opportunities

The Law School also offers students opportunities to engage in pro bono service on a not-for-credit basis.

• Public Service Certificate Program. This Program provides law students with the opportunity to volunteer with nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies and private law firms or practitioners doing pro bono work. Students who participate receive a certificate from the Law School recognizing their public service. The Law School's Director of Public Sector Career Planning helps students find appropriate placements with various service organizations, law firms, agencies and private practitioners. Students interested in public interest opportunities should contact the Director of Public Sector Career Planning in Joan Axinn Hall, across the street from the Law School.
• Unemployment Action Center (UAC). The UAC is a nonprofit, student-run corporation that offers free advice and representation to persons denied unemployment benefits. Its office is located in Room 015.