Community Development Law Clinic

Our Community Development Law Clinic (CDLC) is one of the oldest community development law clinics in the country.  It was founded in 1988 and represents not-for-profit organizations involved in improving low income communities. The caseload also includes representation of low and moderate income individuals starting businesses and buying homes for the first time. Student attorneys practice transactional law for clients engaged in activities such as the development of affordable housing; creation of business and job development programs; creation and development of community centers, after-school programs, day care centers, neighborhood advocacy organizations, disability advocacy organizations, and community development corporations. Students represent individual clients in real estate closings and development of start-up businesses.

What to expect

CDLC is a 2 semester, 6 credit clinic. Students spend 20-25 hours per week on their cases and other clinic-related work. Professional Responsibility is a co- or pre-requisite.

Students will:

• Represent clients in all aspects of corporate entity formation. Provide general counsel representation to corporations once formed.
• Interview, counsel, and advise corporations; analyze documents; negotiate transactions; troubleshoot with state and federal agencies.
• Research diverse areas of law.
• Represent first-time homebuyers at real estate closings.

In the classroom

The CDLC offers students the opportunity to learn about the following areas of law:

• Business law
• Transactional law and economic justice
• For-profit and not-for-profit corporations law
• Law of tax exemption
• Real estate
• Intellectual property
• Contracts
• Copyright and trademark law