The East Bay Community Law Center is the community-based component of Boalt Hall’s Clinical Program, providing law students with a unique opportunity to learn about the responsibilities of practicing law while reflecting on the lawyer’s role and the lawyering process. Under the supervision of EBCLC’s clinical instructors, students provide direct legal services to low-income clients and community groups in Alameda County.

Boalt students may participate at EBCLC:

• For academic credit in the Clinical Program (2Ls & 3Ls)
• As volunteers in the Community Legal Outreach (1Ls)
• As interns during the Summer Program
• In an advisory capacity on the Student Steering Committee

Read EBCLC’s 2009 Report to the Berkeley Law Faculty.

Clinical Program (2Ls & 3Ls)

EBCLC’s Clinical Program engages Boalt students in a well-structured, closely supervised learning experience. Immersed in the law and its application to real clients with significant legal needs, approximately 30 clinic students each semester participate in a wide range of lawyering activities at EBCLC, including direct client representation (interviewing, counseling, legal research, oral and written advocacy), policy advocacy, and community education and outreach.

Working a minimum of 16 hours per week for four credits, students assume substantial responsibility for cases and/or project-based work in one of the following clinical placements:

1. Clean Slate Clinic (Criminal)
2. Health Law Clinic (Multidisciplinary)
3. Health Immigration Project (Administrative)
4. Housing Law Clinic (Litigation)
5. Income Support Clinic (Administrative/Regulatory)
6. Neighborhood Justice Clinic (Self-Help)

Students also enroll concurrently in a companion seminar, “Community Law Practice at EBCLC” (Law 289). During the course, students read materials written by practitioners, academics and students about many of the issues that face EBCLC clients, EBCLC as an institution, and Boalt students working at EBCLC. As a course satisfying Boalt’s professional responsibility requirement, students explore major themes of how to act ethically in the lawyer’s role.

Please note that on-line applications for the Spring 2010 semester are due no later than Friday, October 23, 2009.

Download an information sheet that answers basic questions about EBCLC’s Clinical Program and enrollment procedures.

Complete a Clinical Program application for next semester.

More information about Boalt Hall’s clinical program.