In this lightning session, the presenters will critically examine the role of clinics in the broader academic institution, whether that is the law school or the university as a whole. Our work comes out of clinicians’ experiences of trying to garner institutional support for an initiative, secure funding for work that will benefit hundreds of students on campus, and encourage the institution to reflect changes in the clinical program that address the needs of first-generation law students.
In the first half of the session, the presenters will offer their experiences of how the structure of their clinic, pedagogical choices, and collaborations with campus partners have shaped their clinical project or program. In the second half, the presenters will then solicit participants’ knowledge, insights, and critical questions to share strategies and best practices on how to navigate academic institutions to create meaningful change at home.