Integrating Critical Race Theory into Clinical Practice

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Session Type: Discussion Programs

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As the debate rages about critical race theory (“CRT”) in state legislatures, school board meetings, the media, and beyond, clinical professors should understand the tenets of critical race theory and consider the most effective ways to integrate them into their clinical teaching. This workshop explores two different approaches clinicians have used to incorporate critical race theory into clinical teaching. The workshop will explore how Professor Wilson’s Critical Race Lawyering Civil Rights Clinic introduces students to the tenets of CRT and how they are used to understand the law’s central role in building, maintaining, and deconstructing racism, racial inequalities, and race. Students in her clinic also represent clients, engage in community outreach, and handle policy advocacy projects. They use the CRT framework in developing case strategies, case theories, and participating in policy work. The workshop will also discuss Professors Kim Thomas’ and Dana Thompson’s Critical Race Theory in Clinical Practice course which examines the foundations of CRT and the range of lawyering skills informed by a CRT framework. Students in the course are enrolled in various clinics and a few goals of the course include fostering dialogue across substantive legal areas, developing community across clinics, and helping students develop more empathy for their clients. After discussing these courses, the workshop will send workshop participants into breakout groups to discuss whether clinical professors should integrate CRT into their clinics, if so, why or why not, how they have or how they could meaningfully accomplish this, and the benefits to their clinic clients, students, and legal practice. After the breakout group discussions, each group will share their thoughts with the entire group.