Many clinics now handle advocacy projects where students solve legal problems through the use of strategies and tactics other than litigation. This session is focused on the “start-up” aspect of projects and is designed to make clinic projects both manageable and achievable. Participants will explore the early stages of project planning by addressing three key issues: 1) Whether a project should have a client; 2) How to generate and choose a project client and idea; and 3) How to plan for the unexpected. Participants will gain concrete tools to navigate the initial stages of project development and will obtain feedback on their own clinic’s efforts.
The session will speak to those who are creating a new project-based clinic, wish to add projects to an existing clinic, or teach in or wish to create a clinic that handles both direct representation and project-based work. Participants are encouraged to come to the session with an idea, however preliminary or unformed, about the type of project work they hope to do, as well as some potential goals for teaching through projects. Participants with project experience are encouraged to come to the session with particular challenges they have faced in project planning. Clinicians working in any practice area are welcome in this session.