Case Studies in Public Services

     This one-unit course will consist of a one unit course offered in conjunction with legal summer employment with a governmental agency (city, county, state and federal) or public interest agency. The course is structured to allow the student to explore three major elements of the practice of law in a public setting: (1) the agency’s definition of and impact on its clients; (2) the lawyer’s role as decision maker, public policy maker and precedent setter; and (3) an in-depth review and analysis of at least one individual case or project the student works on during the internship from the point of view of (1) and (2).

     The summer employment will provide students with the opportunity to undertake, under the supervision of an attorney, law-related responsibilities such as legal research and writing; client and witness interviews; and case investigations. Students will also, in some settings, have the opportunity to attend depositions, hearings, trials, agency meetings; etc. The course, on the other hand, is intended to complement the employment by providing a structure for reflection on and study of some of the unique aspects of agency and government law practice. To satisfy the course requirements, students will be required to perform work independent of their employment. Note: Students do not receive credit for work for which they are compensated; the coursework is in addition to the work for which they are compensated.