Course Descriptions

LEGAL AID CLINIC COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Note: All of the following courses may not be offered each semester. Check the current registration information.

APPLIED MEDIATION (Law 70726) (2-0-2) Jenuwine
This course is open to second- and third-year law students interested in providing mediation services to individuals currently litigating disputes in the courts of St. Joseph and surrounding counties. Through this course, students will have the opportunity to serve as mediators in actual cases involving both civil and domestic relations matters, including child custody, support, parenting time, landlord-tenant disputes, contract disputes, and other matters referred by the courts for mediation. The classroom component of the course will focus on the development of mediation skills and exploration of advanced mediation topics.
Pre- or corequisite: Alternative Dispute Resolution (LAW 75717)

LEGAL AID I AND ETHICS (Law 75721): Legal Aid I and Ethics is a 5-credit, graded
course providing training in basic lawyering skills, including interviewing and counseling, as
well as ethics, substantive law and procedural law relevant to the representation of low income
clients in the courts and administrative agencies. Students represent clients under the close
supervision of a clinical faculty member. Students typically represent 3-5 clients during the
course of a semester. The case types vary somewhat among the sections, as described below.
The classroom component of the course uses a combined lecture and mock exercise format.
Students are typically required to participate in at least one community education presentation.
This course satisfies the upper level ethics requirement.

LEGAL AID I AND ETHICS: LANDLORD-TENANT/SOCIAL SECURITY
DISABILITY (Law 75721, Sec. 01, JONES). Students in this section may handle
landlord-tenant cases, Social Security disability cases, or other poverty law matters.
Many cases handled in this section can be completed in the course of a semester,
allowing students an opportunity to see a matter through from beginning to end.

LEGAL AID I AND ETHICS: CONSUMER LAW (75721, Sec. 02, FOX)
This section focuses on consumer protection issues. The particular substantive law issues vary
by semester, depending on client needs. Cases involve the Fair Debt Collection Practices
Act, common law fraud, and Indiana’s small loan statute, among other issues. Students
often engage in discovery activities and can expect to draft and answer interrogatories,
conduct and defend depositions, and participate in settlement efforts. Court appearances
tend to be motion hearings, with an occasional trial.

LEGAL AID I AND ETHICS: MENTAL HEALTH LAW (Law 75721, Sec. 03, JENUWINE)
This section trains students to advocate on behalf of individuals with
mental illnesses and disabilities. Students will participate in cases involving clients who
are mental health consumers and clients with disabilities. Case types may include civil
court proceedings such as guardianships, criminal hearings involving mentally ill or
mentally retarded defendants, and administrative proceedings involving denial of benefits
such as Social Security disability, Medicaid, or Vocational Rehabilitation.

LEGAL AID I AND ETHICS: CRIMINAL JUSTICE (Law 75721, Sec. 04, WRUBLE)
Students in this section will represent defendants charged with criminal misdemeanors in the St. Joseph County Courts. Students will represent clients from arraignment through final disposition, which in some cases may involve jury trials. As criminal misdemeanor cases are normally completed in a matter of months, students will typically be able to follow their cases from beginning to end.

LEGAL AID II (Law 75723, JONES, FOX, JENUWINE): Legal Aid II is a 3-credit,
graded course open to students who have satisfactorily completed Legal Aid I and Ethics. Legal
Aid II allows students to progress to more advanced lawyering skills. Enrollment is by
permission of the instructor. (Time TBA).

POVERTY LAW TOPICS: THE PLANNING AND DRAFTING OF WILLS AND TRUSTS (LAW 73727, SHAFFER) is a two credit clinical seminar that will focus on topicsincluding estate planning for young and middle-aged clients, parents of minor children, life
insurance, and planning for disability. Each student will be expected to represent at least two
clients in such estate planning matters. (F 10:00-12:00)