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ACADEMIC PRACTICE PROGRAM
The application process is now closed for 2022/23
University of Windsor Law students can enroll at CLA for course credit during the fall and winter academic terms. The CLA Academic Program awards course credits to 2nd and 3rd year law students who will engage in work as senior caseworkers and caseworkers at CLA. As an Academic Practice Student, you will be assigned to a group, but unlike volunteers you will perform the role of both a Caseworker and Senior Caseworker on your own case load.
Please note: this program is only able to enroll students into the program on an exceptional basis. There are no guaranteed spots available for academic credit. Only applicants that have demonstrated exceptional ability in their prior work at CLA will be considered for academic credit positions.
University of Windsor Law students can enroll at CLA for course credit during the fall and/or winter academic terms.
CREDIT OPTIONS
1. Full time in the fall or winter terms – you would choose to take CLA for between 8-11 credits in one academic term. Each credit equals 3 hours of work at the clinic. For example, 8 credits = 24 hours of work at the clinic per week.
2. Part time in both the fall and winter terms – you would choose to take CLA for between 4-7 credits in both academic terms. Each credit equals 3 hours of work at the clinic. For example, 4 credits = 12 hours of work at the clinic per week for both the fall and winter academic terms.
Students must complete 3 self-evaluations and review them with the Academic Clinic Professor. The evaluations allow students to reflect on their performance as advocates, development of professional skills and knowledge and application of the Rules of Professional Conduct. The evaluations are meant to supplement the ongoing mentorship and supervisory relationship with the supervising lawyers. Students in both the part-time and the full-time program must also enroll in the 3-credit Clinic Seminar Course during the term the student participates at the clinic.
Pre-Requisites: In the past, we have required academic credit students to have volunteered for at least two semesters at CLA, and to have already taken Criminal Procedure and Evidence. Please note that we are altering our admission criteria - the only pre-requisite is that students have to have some prior experience volunteering at CLA in order to be considered for the academic program.
Please note: each credit equals 3 hours of work in the clinic. For example, a 11-credit placement equals 33 hours in the clinic per week for the academic term.
All students must additionally enroll in the Clinic Seminar course for 3 credits.
SELECTION PROCESS
Application deadlines occur in the spring and summer months. Please check your email regularly during these times to ensure you are apprised of academic application deadlines. Please contact Professor Rogin at roginjl@uwindsor.ca with any questions or concerns.
MORE ABOUT THE CLINIC
Located in downtown Windsor, CLA is a SLASS legal clinic offering services to university undergraduate students and members of the Windsor-Essex community living on low income. Both full time and part time placements are available for students. Students work in the following areas of law: summary conviction criminal matters, provincial offences, housing law for tenants, small claims including wrongful dismissal, employment standards and academic integrity matters.
RESOURCES:
CLINIC MANUAL:
A document describing the Clinic Practice Program at Windsor Law that will guide you through your experience from the application process to preparing successful candidates for their placement.
https://www.uwindsor.ca/law/sites/uwindsor.ca.law/files/clinic_student_manual.pdf