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The Predatory Lending/Consumer Protection Clinic focuses its advocacy efforts on preserving and protecting equity for low- and moderate-income homeowners; combating abuses in the consumer financial services industry; and ensuring equal and fair access to credit markets. The practice is primarily litigation and involves consumer, bankruptcy, real estate, banking, and tort law. The Clinic defends homeowners against foreclosure and commences complex litigation in Federal District Court, Bankruptcy Court, and Massachusetts Superior Court against subprime lenders, banking institutions, mortgage brokers, loan servicers, and foreclosure rescue scam artists. The Clinic also maintains a vibrant consumer law practice in which students defend against unlawful debt collection practices in small claims court and represent consumers seeking a fresh start through petitions for bankruptcy.
Students in the Clinic gain extensive experience interviewing clients, analyzing loan documents, drafting complaints, drafting and responding to discovery requests, conducting and defending depositions, negotiating with opposing counsel, arguing motions, and engaging in long-term case strategizing. Students also have the opportunity to engage in bankruptcy and transactional work; to participate in the Clinic’s Small Claims Debt Collection Project; and, on occasion, to work on legislative initiatives and impact litigation, particularly regarding patterns of racial discrimination in lending in the Greater Boston credit markets.
Students wishing to enroll in this clinic must enroll in the Predatory Lending and Consumer Protection Clinical Workshop A (fall) or B (spring).
We also encourage interested students to concurrently enroll in: Legal Profession: Delivery of Legal Services (A or B), which satisfies the Law School's Professional Responsibility Requirement, or Consumer Finance (spring).
For more information on the Predatory Lending Prevention / Consumer Protection Clinic, please contact Roger Bertling, (617) 390-2572; or Max Weinstein, (617) 390-2694.
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