Clinics and Field Placement Courses

General Information

Clinics and field placement courses are experiential learning practicums in which students represent actual clients and/or engage in other lawyering tasks under supervision. Clinics and field placement courses integrate doctrine, theory, skills, and legal ethics; develop the concepts underlying the professional skills being taught; provide multiple opportunities for performance; and provide opportunities for self-evaluation. In clinics, students are supervised by a faculty member, who provides feedback on their lawyering performance. All clinics also include a seminar component. In field placement courses, students are supervised by, and receive feedback on their lawyering performance from, a site supervisor who typically is not a faculty member. All field placement courses either include a seminar component or provide students with a means of ongoing, contemporaneous, faculty-guided reflection through interaction with a faculty supervisor. All clinics and field placement courses satisfy the JD Practice-Based Learning Requirement, with the exception of individual field placements, which must be taken concurrently with the Individual Field Placement Seminar in order to satisfy the requirement. LL.M. students should choose to augment their classroom experience through appropriate available clinics and field placements approved by the director of their LL.M. program.

Restriction on Simultaneous Enrollment

No student may be simultaneously enrolled in more than one clinic or field placement course, with the exception of an individual field placement, during any academic term, unless they have permission from the Associate Dean for Experiential Learning. A student may participate in an individual field placement while simultaneously enrolled in a clinic or other field placement course, with the permission of the clinic or field placement course instructor, the individual field placement supervisor, and the Field Placement Program Director. A student may participate in Advanced Fieldwork in one clinic or field placement course, while simultaneously enrolled in another clinic or field placement course, with the permission of both instructors and the Associate Dean for Experiential Learning.

Advanced Fieldwork Credit Limitation

Students who have successfully completed a clinic may, subject to instructor permission and the availability of appropriate matters, continue to work on such matters under the supervision of clinic attorneys for one or more additional semesters through enrollment in Advanced Fieldwork. A minimum of 56 hours of fieldwork is required for each credit awarded. Students may count towards graduation no greater than three (3) credits per semester and six (6) credits total of Advanced Fieldwork. These limits apply to the sum of all Advanced Fieldwork credits. Advanced Fieldwork credits count as direct faculty instruction.

LL.M. Restriction on Enrollment

LL.M. students can earn no more than five credits in any combination of field placements, LL.M. Research Projects, LL.M. thesis, inter-scholastic skills competition, or clinic credits. Students wishing to exceed five credits may seek permission from the Director of Graduate Programs and Admissions and the LL.M. program director.

Students are allowed up to three credits of Pass/Fail credit without the consent of the LL.M. director.

No student may be simultaneously enrolled in more than one clinic or field placement course, with the exception of an individual field placement, during any academic term. A student may participate in an individual field placement while simultaneously enrolled in a clinic or other field placement course, with the permission of the clinic or field placement course instructor, the individual field placement supervisor, and the Director of Field Placements.

Monetary Compensation

A student may not receive monetary compensation for participation in a field placement other than the reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the placement.

International Student Requirements

Please note that there are additional requirements for students on F-1 and J-1 visas seeking to enroll in clinic or field placement course. Students are urged to contact the International Student and Scholar Services Office and the Director of the Field Placement Program for more information. International LL.M. students beginning in the fall semester who hold F-1 visas shall aim to complete the clinic or field placement in the second or final semester if a suitable placement is available. International LL.M. students beginning in the spring semester who hold F-1 visas shall aim to complete the clinic or field placement in the summer semester if a suitable placement is available. If a suitable summer placement is not available in the summer semester, students should confer with the Office of Graduate and International Programs about a fall semester placement opportunity.

Individual Field Placements

General Information

Individual field placements are semester-long student placements with organizations or individuals outside the Law School. In these placements, the first level of student supervision is conducted at the placement by an individual designated as the placement supervisor. The placement supervisor must be an attorney admitted to practice in any U.S. jurisdiction or a judge sitting on any court unless this requirement is waived by the Field Placement Program Director or the Associate Dean for Experiential Education. In addition to the direct student supervision by the placement supervisor, each student is under the supervision and sponsorship of a member of the full-time faculty (the faculty supervisor). The faculty supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the individual placement provides educational work assignments including significant writing and appropriate evaluation of student performance during the semester for which the student receives credit. The faculty supervisor meets periodically with the student to discuss their work and to review the student’s reflective journal. Students must complete both the fieldwork and coursework requirements to earn credit for either.

Requirements

Journal/Log

Each student enrolled in an individual field placement is required to keep a reflective journal and log of their work at the placement and the faculty supervisor or field placement program director reviews this periodically.

Credit/Hours

Students may enroll for up to three individual field placement credits in a fall or spring semester, up to four credits over the summer, and for one credit during the winter term. Students must indicate the number of credit hours they are enrolling for on the field placement approval form at the time of registration.

A minimum of 56 hours of work is required for each credit allocated. In addition, students should work a minimum of four hours a week per credit. Students must complete the required number of fieldwork hours for the number of credits for which they are enrolled before the start of the next academic term. No JD student may enroll in more than eight credits total of individual field placements and SRPs combined over the course of their studies. SRPs and individual field placement credits are combined when determining compliance with the total credit limit. The per semester limit does not aggregate the two. No LL.M. student may enroll in more than five credits total of individual field placements, clinics, LL.M. research projects, or other approved independent work combined over the course of their studies. LL.M. research projects and individual field placement credits are combined when determining compliance with the total credit limit.

Restriction on Simultaneous Enrollment

No student may be simultaneously enrolled in more than one clinic or field placement course, with the exception of an individual field placement, during any academic term. A student may participate in an individual field placement while simultaneously enrolled in a clinic or other field placement course, with the permission of the clinic or field placement course instructor, the individual field placement supervisor, and the Field Placement Program Director. A student may participate in Advanced Fieldwork in one clinic or field placement course, while simultaneously enrolled in another clinic or field placement course, with the permission of both instructors

Grading

All individual field placement credits are graded pass/fail.

Enrollment and Add/Drop

Students enroll in an individual field placement by submitting a completed individual field placement approval form. The form must be submitted by the end of the first week of classes (or by the 2nd day of classes in a summer session). Specific due dates are included on the academic calendar.

Individual field placements may be dropped only with permission of the Field Placement Program Director and/or the Petitions Committee.

Students must complete the required number of fieldwork hours for the number of credits for which they are enrolled. The deadline for changing the number of credits is the end of the add/drop period. The Director of Field Placements may, in exceptional circumstances, permit a late change of one credit only. Adjustments to the number of credits may result in adjustments to a student's fee bill.

International Student Requirements

Please note that there are additional requirements for students on F-1 and J-1 visas seeking to enroll in clinic or field placement course. Students are urged to contact the International Student and Scholar Services Office and the Director of Field Placements at the Law School for more information.

Monetary Compensation

A student may not receive monetary compensation for participation in a field placement other than the reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the placement.

Bar Qualification

No representation is made whether these credits will be accepted by any state bar association and it is the responsibility of the participating student to make an independent inquiry.

Semester in D.C.

General Information

The Semester in DC Program offers students a unique opportunity to expand their horizons, gain valuable contacts and legal experience, build their resumes, and learn how our federal government works, by working in a congressional office, federal agency or non-profit organizations in Washington, DC - while getting a full semester's academic credit along the way. The supervised Field Placement credits taken as part of the Semester in DC program count as graded credits when determining compliance with Pass/Fail grading credit limits. These credits do not count as in-classroom, or regularly scheduled classroom credits, when determining compliance with the direct faculty instruction classroom limits.

Eligibility and Application

Only Juris Doctor students who have completed their 1L curriculum courses are eligible to apply for the Semester in D.C. program.

Requirements

The requirements of the Semester in D.C. program include (1) completing a two-credit seminar and (2) completion of a supervised field placement of (on average) 38.5 hours a week for 14 weeks in a qualifying government agency, public interest legal organization, congressional office, or other legal practice in Washington, D.C. for a total of 12 credits.

New York Pro Bono Scholars Program

General Information

UConn Law offers students the opportunity to participate in the New York Pro Bono Scholars Program, an initiative of the New York courts. Participating students take the New York bar exam in February of their final semester of law school and then devote 12 weeks to providing full-time pro bono legal assistance through an approved field placement. Participating students must enroll in an approved pro bono field placement and the New York Pro Bono Scholars Field Placement Seminar.

The supervised field placement credits taken as part of the New York Pro Bono Scholars Program count as graded credits when determining compliance with Pass/Fail grading credit limits. These credits do not count as in-classroom, or regularly scheduled classroom credits, when determining compliance with the direct faculty instruction classroom limits.

Eligibility and Application

Enrollment is open to selected Juris Doctor students in their final spring semester of law school who will have completed at least 74 credits and all graduation requirements (except for the practice-based learning requirement, which can be satisfied by completing this field placement and the co-requisite seminar) by the end of the fall semester of their final year of law school. Students submit an application to participate in the program and must secure placement with a qualifying organization.

Requirements

The requirements of the New York Pro Bono Scholars program includes: (1) approved pro bono placement and completion of a minimum of 450 fieldwork hours over 12 weeks for 10 pass/fail credit; (2) completion of the New York Pro Bono Scholars Field Placement Seminar, a two-credit graded seminar; and (3) completion of all other requirements established by the New York courts for successful completion of the New York Pro Bono Scholars Program.

Faculty Directed Reading Seminar

General Information

The Faculty Directed Reading Seminar is a one-credit seminar that allows students to participate in a reading group led by a full-time faculty member. A minimum of three students and a maximum of eight students is allowed. The seminar may be on any subject of mutual interest to the faculty member and students. Students may initiate a reading seminar by approaching a faculty member or a faculty member may initiate a reading seminar by approaching a group of students. In addition, faculty members may offer the reading seminar as a class in which students register during the normal registration process. Reading seminars may be co-taught by two faculty members and enrollment may correspondingly be increased to twelve students. The reading list will be drawn up by the faculty member in consultation with students if desired.

Enrollment/Scheduling

Students may enroll in multiple reading seminars, but only one per term. The reading seminar will meet for at least one hour per week, and can be scheduled in the alternative to meet on an every other week basis for two-hour sessions.

Requirements

Students enrolled in a faculty-directed reading seminar will be expected to do reading for the seminar which equals one substantial law review article every week, or a book every other week. Additionally, the course requirements include the equivalent of one ten-page reflection paper (minimum).

Grading

The Faculty Directed Reading Seminar is only available on a pass/fail basis.

Law Review/Law Journal Membership

General Information

J.D. Students who have been granted membership to one of the three law school legal publications shall receive one academic credit for satisfactory completion of their journal work. Students may receive additional credit for the satisfactory completion of credit-eligible work they perform in specified 3L or 4L editorial positions, up to a total of three additional credits, as determined by the journal/law review advisor and outlined in journal/law review by-laws. In addition, students may receive one additional credit for publication of their note or comment in the student journal of which they are a member, if the student has not received credit for the work as an SRP, and subject to the approval of the journal/law review advisor.

Credits/Grading

Students will ordinarily allocate their law review/law journal credit(s) to their final semester of academic study subject to the approval of the editor in chief and the journal/law review advisor. Students who are eligible for two or three academic credits for their work in editorial positions may allocate up to two of their total law review/journal credit(s) to their penultimate semester of study. Law review/journal credits are awarded on a pass/fail basis.

Academic and Upper-level Writing Requirement Credit for Journal Notes

Students wishing to receive academic credit for writing a journal note, whether or not such note is required as a condition of journal membership, may do so by enrolling in a Special Research Project (SRP) with a faculty member. That SRP is subject to the normal rules governing SRPs, including those relating to satisfaction of the upper-level writing requirement.

Tuition and Fees

Legal editorship credits are subject to standard tuition and fees.

Interscholastic Advocacy-Skills Competitions

Credits Permitted

A student who participates in an interscholastic advocacy-skills competition, including but not limited to a moot court competition that requires submission of a brief, or a mock trial, negotiation, mediation, or arbitration competition, may be eligible to earn up to two pass/fail credits.

Credit Requirements

The competition must be approved in advance of the student's participation by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Experiential Education (hereinafter throughout this section, “an associate dean”). For LL.M. Students, additional approval is required by the Director of the student’s LL.M. program.

• A faculty member, or a lawyer approved by an associate dean, must serve as competition advisor.
• For moot court competitions, the student seeking credit must author or co-author a substantial portion of the brief.
• For all competitions, the advisor must observe at least one pre-competition mooting session and provide feedback.
• The student seeking credit must provide the advisor with a written self-evaluation, on the Registrar’s prescribed form, reflecting on the student’s competition experience. The student must arrange to meet with the advisor in real time to discuss and review the evaluation.
• The student must keep a time record and certify its accuracy on the Registrar’s prescribed form or in such other manner as prescribed by the Registrar. The student must devote a minimum of 42.5 hours of engagement per credit earned. This includes all time spent preparing for, participating in, and debriefing the competition. It does not include travel time except to the extent spent preparing or debriefing.
• The student’s compliance with the above self-evaluation and timekeeping requirements must be confirmed in writing by the advisor, on the Registrar’s prescribed form, and thence by an associate dean.

Limitation on Credits

J.D. Students may count toward graduation no more than four credits for competing in interscholastic advocacy-skills competitions. For LL.M. students, these credits count toward the maximum of five non-classroom credits that may be counted toward the degree.

Application Procedure/Deadline

An application form is to be used by students seeking credit for participation in an interscholastic advocacy-skills competition. Due dates for this form are posted on the academic calendar (generally no later than the end of the 2nd week of class of the fall or spring term and 2nd day of the winter term or summer session). A late application may be approved for good cause show; in all cases, however, the application must be submitted in advance of the student’s participation in the competition.

Bar Qualification

No representation is made whether these credits will be accepted by any state bar association and it is the responsibility of the participating student to make an independent inquiry.

Independent Research Projects

General Information

J.D. Students

A special research project (SRP) involves in-depth research, investigation and discussion of specific problems in the law. A project may be undertaken with any member of the full-time faculty after the student's second semester of study. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may approve supervision by an adjunct faculty member. Prior approval of the faculty member and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs are to be obtained on a form supplied by the Registrar's Office.

LL.M Students

An LL.M. research project involves in-depth research, investigation and discussion of specific problems in the law. A project may be undertaken with any member of the full-time faculty in the student’s first semester of study only with permission of the director of the LL.M. program or her/his designee, in the student’s second semester of study or later in the LL.M. program. LL.M. students who are UConn Law graduates may complete an LL.M. research project in any semester. The director of the LL.M. program or her/his designee may approve supervision by an adjunct faculty member. Prior approval of the faculty member and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or her/his designee are to be obtained on a form supplied by the Registrar’s Office.

Application Deadlines/Completion Dates (Add/Drop)/Extensions

A student should ensure that the Research Project Application, complete with all of the necessary approvals, has been received by the Registrar's Office. The application form is available online.

Research Projects may be added no later than the end of the second week of the fall or spring semester and no later than the second class day of the summer sessions or the winter term. If the Research Project extends over more than one term, the completed Research Project Application should be submitted to the Registrar's Office no later than the deadline for the first semester in which the student expects to receive credit for the project. For Research Project enrollment in the winter term, the start and completion date of the research must be within the dates of the winter term.

A Research Project may be dropped at any time during the semester. Prior to the last day of classes in the term in which the student expects to complete the project, students may adjust the number of credits with permission of the instructor. A Research Project may be taken on a pass/fail basis unless it is being utilized to fulfill the writing requirement. Adjustments to the number of academic credits may result in adjustments to a student's fee bill.

The supervisor, in consultation with the student, sets the deadlines for the paper. Prior to the final deadline, for good cause, the instructor may grant a single extension of time for handing in the paper.

Prior to the final deadline as extended by the instructor, a student apply to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for a further extension upon showing that unavoidable circumstances make completion of the work by the deadline impossible. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may set an extended deadline after consultation with the instructor, but no extension can be granted that is later than the student's anticipated date of graduation. (The graduation dates are January 31, Commencement Day in May and July 10. There are no additional graduation dates.)

Failure to submit a paper by the appropriate deadline results in a failing grade for the paper, unless the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs finds that grave cause prevented the timely submission of the paper. No such cause is considered sufficient if it could have been the subject of an application for extension as described above. Where failure to submit a paper is excused as above, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the instructor, sets a further extended deadline.

Notwithstanding the above rules, if a student scheduled for graduation at the close of the semester would have sufficient credits for graduation without the special research project credits, the instructor or the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may direct that the student be withdrawn from Research Project.

Academic Credit

Research Project credits that are scheduled to conclude during a future semester from that in which the student is enrolled will be reflected as attempted credits, not completed credits when determining compliance with the pace of study requirement.

A research project need not begin and end in the same academic semester or academic year.

A student may enroll for up to three credits of research in a fall or spring semester, up to four credits over the summer, and up to one credit during the winter term.

A minimum of 10 pages, as well as the research required to complete these pages, will be required for each credit awarded.

No JD student may enroll in greater than a maximum of eight credits¹ during the length of their studies. SRPs and individual field placement credits are combined when determining compliance with the total credit limit. The per-semester limit does not aggregate the two.

No LL.M. student may enroll in more than four credits total credits for both LL.M. research projects and field placements combined during their studies in the LL.M. program.

Subject to the above limitations, the number of credits for which a Research Project is undertaken may be increased or decreased at any time by the faculty member.

The length of an SRP may extend, at the faculty member's discretion, over a period of more than twelve months.

¹

Possible exception to the eight credit rule: With the approval of the Director of International Exchange Programs and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, this eight credit maximum may be increase to no more than 12 for a student who has received approval to study abroad and who is authorized to complete a special research project to compensate for credits missed as a result of foreign study.

Extra Copy

It is the responsibility of the student to have available an extra copy of their paper for use in grading should it become necessary. In the event the original paper was submitted but lost and the student does not have an extra copy, the student has the option of submitting another paper within a reasonable time. J.D. students have the option of receiving no credit for the work.

Grading

Research Projects may be taken on a pass/fail or graded basis. Research Projects taken in satisfaction of the upper-level writing requirement must be taken on graded basis.

Additional Limitation for LL.M. Research Based on Journal/Law Review Work Product.

Any LL.M. student opting to use research and writing that was used for journal/law review credit during the JD program, may do so in the LL.M. program only if such student did not earn credit related to the journal/law review note credit during their JD degree.

Such student may earn no more than three credits for an LL.M. Research Project based on research and writing that is related to research and writing performed for law review/journal credit in satisfaction of membership requirements.

A student seeking approval of LL.M. Research Project credit based on research and writing that was used for journal/law review credit during the JD program must complete a synopsis outlining the intended research goals of the project. Such document will summarize the prior paper and outline additional research required. Once approved by the faculty advisor, the synopsis will be submitted along with the LL.M. Thesis/Research Project Application form to the faculty advisor for signature and then to the faculty director of the LL.M. Program or their designee.

Teaching Assistantships

J.D. Students may serve as teaching assistants for first-year and upper-level courses. LL.M. Students may serve as teaching assistants for the LL.M. required courses, 1L, and upper-level courses. Students must pay for TA credits as they do any other; the Law School cannot and does not waive or reimburse students for these charges. Faculty members may also choose to arrange payment of LL.M. students working as TAs through separate funds. If such payment is arranged, the Teaching Assistant will not earn academic credit.

Teaching Assistantships for All Courses Except Legal Practice and US Law and Legal Institutions: Research and Writing

Teaching assistants must successfully have completed the course for which they are applying (though not necessarily with the same professor) and must receive written permission of the professor whom they would assist. Teaching assistants are required to attend classes and complete all reading assignments. Teaching assistants will (1) undertake at least two meaningful teaching experiences (e.g., conducting review sessions, classroom exercises or other form of direct instruction), (2) devote at least 21 hours during the course of the semester to the holding of meetings with individual students taking the course, (3) at least twice during the semester take the lead in drafting educational materials such as exam questions/answers or other supplemental course materials, and (4) attend tutorial sessions with the professor who will provide feedback on the student's work. Teaching assistants are prohibited from involvement in formulating, drafting, or grading the final exam, or participating in any other way in the grading of students. Teaching assistants will receive one credit fewer than the number received by students taking the course¹ to be graded on a pass/fail basis. These credits count toward the maximum number of ungraded credits that students may apply toward the credits required to graduate.

JD Student Teaching Assistantships for 1L Legal Practice Courses and US Law and Legal Institutions: Research and Writing

Teaching assistants for Legal Practice courses must successfully have completed the course they are assisting (though not necessarily with the same professor). Teaching Assistants for US Law and Legal Institutions: Research and Writing must successfully have completed either that course or the fall (JD) Legal Practice course.

Teaching assistants will complete all requirements as outlined by the instructor. Teaching assistants are prohibited from grading the work of students in the course. Teaching assistants will receive two pass/fail credits. These credits count toward the maximum number of ungraded credits (12) that students may apply toward the 86 credits required to graduate.

LL.M. Student Teaching Assistantships for US Law and Legal Institutions and US Law and Legal Institutions: Research and Writing

LL.M. Students may serve as teaching assistants for the two required courses for LLM students, U.S. Law and Legal Institutions and U.S. Law and Legal Institutions, Research and Writing, subject to the requirements set out below. Two (2) credits will be awarded for each Teaching Assistantship position.

LL.M. Teaching Assistantships shall be subject to the following requirements:

1. LL.M. Teaching Assistants must have successfully completed the course in which they are serving as TA (though not necessarily with the same professor). Teaching Assistants for US Law and Legal Institutions: Research and Writing must successfully have completed either that course or the fall (JD) Legal Practice course.
2. LL.M. Teaching Assistants must complete all requirements as outlined by the instructor.
3. LL.M. Teaching Assistants are prohibited from grading the work of students in the course.
4. LL.M. Teaching Assistants will receive two pass/fail credits. These credits count toward the maximum number of ungraded credits that students may apply toward the credits required to graduate.

¹

Students serving as TAs in the required year-long 1LE and 2LE courses, and who serve for the entire year, receive a second credit for the spring semester, for a total of three credits.