Public Interest Lawyering
LAW 821 | 1-3 Hours
This course will consider lawyers’ use of litigation, policy advocacy, and transactional law to pursue a more just and equitable legal system. The course will explore issues associated with representation of individuals who cannot afford legal representation; the problems and possibilities involved in impact litigation; and advocacy before the legislative and executive branches of government. The course will consider the different venues in which public interest lawyering can be done, including not-for-profit, governmental, and private-sector settings. Topics covered may include: the definition, history and development of public interest law; current trends in public interest advocacy; the role and/or obligation of the private bar in public interest lawyering; public interest career development; professional responsibility and ethics in public interest practice; and public interest lawyering strategies.