Law School Clinics

Real clients, real cases, real impact. Where law students put learning into practice.

Learn Law by Practicing It

Our clinics help students gain hands-on experience through in-house Clinical Programs that combine skills training with service. These clinics provide high-quality legal representation to underserved clients while preparing future lawyers with real-world practice, ethical understanding, and a commitment to expanding access to justice.

Child Advocacy Clinic

Students in the Child Advocacy Clinic are appointed by courts to serve as the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to represent children in cases involving allegations of neglect and abuse. The GAL acts as a court-appointed expert witness charged with investigating the allegations made by the parties. We interview fact witnesses, conduct home visits, review pleadings, and gather medical, school, and law enforcement records. We then prepare a report to the court about our investigation, and make recommendations as to the custody arrangement that would be in the best interest of the child.

We also assist individuals in uncontested matters, to establish guardianships or finalize custody arrangements or adoptions, in order to achieve permanency for the involved children. Students may also work on special projects to promote child advocacy in Mississippi.

Patrick Bryan

Clinical Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the Child Advocacy Clinic

George C. Cochran Innocence Project

The mission of our clinical program is to educate students in the practical art of lawyering while providing quality legal representation to Mississippi state prisoners serving significant periods of incarceration who have cognizable claims of wrongful conviction.

The clinic itself offers students a unique opportunity to serve the public, to explore career possibilities, to gain first-hand insight into the strategic and ethical dimensions of the profession, and to acquire valuable legal skills.

Tucker Carrington

Associate Dean of Clinical Programs, Director of the Innocence Project and Professor of Law

Housing Clinic

Students participating in the housing clinic assist individuals and families facing eviction or foreclosure and victims of illegal lockouts and predatory lending practices. They take responsibility for the management of their own cases, meet with clients, interview witnesses, draft motions and pleadings and appear in court.

Desiree Hensley

Professor of Law and Director of the Housing Clinic

Jordan Hughes

Research Counsel II-Public Interest and Assistant Professor of Practice

MacArthur Justice Clinic

The Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center opened in the fall semester of 2014. The Center advocates for human rights and social justice through litigation, focusing on issues such as police misconduct, unlawful bail and fine collection practices that result in incarceration of poor Mississippians, conditions of confinement, and juvenile justice. Students participate in all aspects of the Center’s litigation, including case selection, witness interviews, research, discovery, and assistance at trials.

Cliff Johnson II

Clinical Professor of Law Instruction

Angela Galloway

Program Manager - MacArthur Justice Center

Transactional Clinic

Students assist low-income entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations to foster economic development, increase access to capital, and promote job growth in the Mississippi Delta.

Marie Cope

Clinical Associate Professor of Law Instruction

Pro Bono Initiative

UM Law’s Pro Bono Initiative (PBI) is a unique in-house pro bono program. Student volunteers attend legal clinics, where they team with attorney volunteers to interview and assist pro se litigants. Student volunteers can also work on policy initiatives and provide public education on legal issues. PBI is a clinical program that connects law students with pro bono events and organizations.

Cori Benefiel

Clinical Programs Manager

Clinical Externship Program

Ole Miss Law offers second and third-year students diverse and exciting externship opportunities during the school year and in the summer, with placements ranging from three credit hours to twelve. Externs integrate the theoretical knowledge gained from traditional law school classes with the practical experience of working in a public service, governmental or judicial setting.

Externships include placements in prosecution, public defense, government, judicial, legal aid, social justice, medical, education, sports, and not-for-profit public service agencies. Placements are not available in for-profit offices or agencies.

View more information regarding our Clinical Externship Program and links to application forms.

Hans Sinha

Clinical Professor and Director of Externship Program