Notre Dame Law School Eviction Clinic gives students hands-on experience representing families facing eviction in St. Joseph County

The Notre Dame Law School Eviction Clinic pairs students with clients facing eviction or related proceedings across St. Joseph County, Indiana. The clinic also works in conjunction with organizations to advocate for increased legislative protections for renters across the state, especially those undergoing the eviction process. Several second and third-year students work at the Eviction Clinic every academic year.

“The Eviction Clinic has been very meaningful to me. I worked with the Eviction Clinic for a year and a half and I really got to work hands on with clients, which is something I’ve grown to appreciate,” said recent graduate Andrew Badger. “I don’t know where else you can get that experience.”

The clinic, which operates under the supervision of David Pruitt, director of the Law School’s Clinical Law Center, seeks to give ND Law students the opportunity to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to real life cases to assist underserved renters in both public and private rental housing with eviction defense, monetary damages claims, and proceedings to terminate voucher assistance.

“I really think this is different because all the classes I’d had before this were studying for an exam or writing a paper about something theoretical. This is so different because I’m actually learning how to do legal work on the ground,” said recent graduate Alexander Drutis. “It’s one thing to work with people on a group project or report to your boss, but it’s a vastly different situation when there’s an adversarial relationship and there’s a threat of court looming. Taking both sides’ goals and objectives into account and coming to a solution requires a lot of patience, and I think this experience has made me a more patient and understanding person.”

Students working in the Eviction Clinic have seen a number of significant favorable rulings for their clients on cases this year.

“My work at the clinic helped me see the good in what I was doing, and it made me excited to be a lawyer in a way that law school hadn’t,” said recent graduate Nate Barry, who last fall secured a victory for a client through the Eviction Clinic. “This was a great opportunity to bring my skills to the community and put them to use in real life–it really required me to do God’s work.”

Since 1990, more than 2,000 Notre Dame Law students have participated in a clinic, and many students have spoken about the importance of having an impact in the community through the opportunity to do hands-on casework.

“I’ve been able to make a significant impact at the clinic in some of my clients’ lives. Sometimes, it’s small things like saving them some money from back rent, and in other cases, it’s preventing an eviction entirely,” said recent graduate Brennan Murray. “In some cases, we’re able to seal those evictions so if the client ever changes housing or is looking for new opportunities, those records are sealed and they have the freedom to move on without that weight on their shoulders.”

“I think the most meaningful part of the Eviction Clinic for me has just simply been helping others. At Notre Dame specifically, we pride ourselves on being what we call a different kind of lawyer. I think ultimately that comes down to the service of others,” said recent graduate Molly Baldock.

This past spring, Eviction Clinic students met with Indiana State Senator Liz Brown who is chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary during one of their classes. She spoke to students about the legislative process, the competing interests addressed when considering legislation, and the importance of building coalitions.

The Clinical Law Center was established to connect Notre Dame students with the greater South Bend and St. Joseph County communities, ultimately supporting the Law School’s mission to “educate a different kind of lawyer.” By providing unmet legal needs to underserved populations, students get a firsthand look at what it means to further social justice and enact good through their legal work.

“For me, working with these clients has been so impactful because I’ve been able to see the tangible effects this has in their cases and also in their lives,” said Baldock. “Ultimately, what the clinic allows students to do is go out and apply it in the community and the real world to real cases that have a real impact on real people.”

Notre Dame Law School operates seven teaching law offices and offers second- and third-year law students as well as L.L.M. students the opportunity to earn academic credit while providing free legal services to underserved communities. Find out more about the clinics on the Law School’s website.