Supreme Court Clinic
Encyclopedia
A Supreme Court Clinic is a law school clinic that provides hands-on legal experience in Supreme Court Litigation to law students. Clinics are usually directed by clinical professors and experienced Supreme Court litigators and typically represent indigent or non-profit clients in the Supreme Court of the United States
. Assistance is provided pro bono
.
Supreme Court Clinics exist at Stanford Law School, New York University Law School, Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, The University of Virginia School of Law, The University of Texas School of Law, Emory University School of Law, Northwestern University Law School, and University of Pennsylvania Law School. Supreme Court clinics generally file amicus briefs ("friend of the Court briefs"); petitions for certiorari
, which are formal requests to the Court to decide a case; and merits briefs, which are formal legal arguments presented to the Court after it as agreed to take a case. Typically, experienced Supreme Court litigators help run the clinics. It is these litigators who represent the clinics before the Court during oral arguments.
The first Supreme Court Clinic was founded at Stanford Law School
in 2004 and, by March 2006, the Supreme Court had agreed to hear five cases the clinic helped file and declined to hear three. The Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at NYU School of Law was formed in Fall 2007. The Supreme Court Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law
was formed in Fall 2004; the Yale Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic was formed in Fall 2006; and the University of Virginia
Supreme Court Litigation Clinic was formed in Fall 2006. Harvard Law School announced that it will launch a Supreme Court Clinic in Fall 2007. The University of Pennsylvania opened its Supreme Court Clinic Fall 2009. The Emory Law School Supreme Court Advocacy Project
, the first largely student-run Supreme Court Clinic, started in Fall 2010.
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. Assistance is provided pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
.
Supreme Court Clinics exist at Stanford Law School, New York University Law School, Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, The University of Virginia School of Law, The University of Texas School of Law, Emory University School of Law, Northwestern University Law School, and University of Pennsylvania Law School. Supreme Court clinics generally file amicus briefs ("friend of the Court briefs"); petitions for certiorari
Certiorari
Certiorari is a type of writ seeking judicial review, recognized in U.S., Roman, English, Philippine, and other law. Certiorari is the present passive infinitive of the Latin certiorare...
, which are formal requests to the Court to decide a case; and merits briefs, which are formal legal arguments presented to the Court after it as agreed to take a case. Typically, experienced Supreme Court litigators help run the clinics. It is these litigators who represent the clinics before the Court during oral arguments.
The first Supreme Court Clinic was founded at Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
in 2004 and, by March 2006, the Supreme Court had agreed to hear five cases the clinic helped file and declined to hear three. The Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at NYU School of Law was formed in Fall 2007. The Supreme Court Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
was formed in Fall 2004; the Yale Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic was formed in Fall 2006; and the University of Virginia
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
Supreme Court Litigation Clinic was formed in Fall 2006. Harvard Law School announced that it will launch a Supreme Court Clinic in Fall 2007. The University of Pennsylvania opened its Supreme Court Clinic Fall 2009. The Emory Law School Supreme Court Advocacy Project
Emory Law School Supreme Court Advocacy Project
The Emory Law School Supreme Court Advocacy Project is a organization at Emory Law School dedicated to representing clients in the Supreme Court of the United States. Formed in 2010, the project joins a growing class of Supreme Court Clinics that provide expert representation under the guidance of...
, the first largely student-run Supreme Court Clinic, started in Fall 2010.