Programs

Students represent elderly clients in negotiations, administrative hearings, and court proceedings on a variety of legal matters, including basic wills and powers of attorney, guardianships, consumer issues, Medicaid and Medicare benefits, nursing home regulation and quality of long-term care, elder abuse and neglect, and advance medical directives. Students develop practical skills by participating in client interviewing, counseling, and trial advocacy. Students may engage in policy analysis and advocacy work with partnering organizations including including the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA), the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Virginia Elder Rights Coalition, and the Senior Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association.

The Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center conducts a yearlong clinic centered on the representation of those sentenced to death in Virginia and issues relevant to such cases.

The UVa Center for Children, Families, and the Law hosts an annual conference on policy and legal issues related to children and families.

Students represent low-income children involved in legal issues in the areas of education, foster care and social services, mental health and developmental disabilities, and laws governing services to children who have been found delinquent.

Founded by law students at the University of Virginia eight years ago, the Conference on Public Service and the Law brings together students, faculty, attorneys, and policymakers to explore public interest issues facing today's legal community. Past conferences have drawn more than 500 law students and close to 100 panelists from across the country.

The semester-long Criminal Defense Clinic is designed to provide a first-hand, experience-based study of the processes, techniques, strategy and responsibilities of legal representation at the trial level.

"Developments in Mental Health Law" provides readers with articles, case summaries, book and article reviews, and legislative developments. Although designed to provide an emphasis on Virginia law, the materials included are national in scope.

The Doherty Lecture on Oceans Policy is presented annually by prominent leaders, scientists, and other experts in the field of oceans law and policy.

Students in the Employment Law Clinic work on employment cases in cooperation with the Legal Aid Justice Center and local attorneys.

Students in this yearlong clinic participate in a range of activities related to the protection and restoration of natural resources and environmental quality.The clinic represents and counsels environmental nonprofits, citizen’s groups and community organizations seeking to protect and restore the environment of the mid-Atlantic region and other parts of the country.