Health, Disability and Estate Planning: Law and Policy Clinical Workshop
Fall term, Block J
W 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Mr. Robert Greenwald
2 classroom credits LAW-38093A Fall
2, 3 or 4 required clinical credits LAW-38093C Fall
The Health, Disability and Estate Planning Advocacy clinical workshop provides students who are concurrently enrolled in the WilmerHale Legal Services Center's Administrative/Disability, Health or Estate Planning law clinics, with the practical skills and substantive knowledge necessary to effectively advocate for their clients in and out of the courtroom. Objectives of the course include: developing practical lawyering skills to be applied in the clinical component and beyond; understanding the applicable statutory and case law; enhancing student understanding of the professional roles, values and ethics involved in the practice of law; gaining insight into the unique challenges of low-income clients, and analyzing and proposing legal advocacy approaches to contemporary health, disability and estate planning law issues. The course emphasizes a collaborative "health-law" approach to advocating for our client populations in Massachusetts and nationally.
The workshop is hands-on and group oriented and most classes involve both small and large-group exercises and discussions. Throughout the course, we work on a hypothetical case from the initial client interviews through the final disposition of the case. In a series of simulated group exercises, students conduct in-depth interviews with the "client", prepare a case and client theory, counsel the client as the facts of the case evolve, and reflect on ethical issues encountered during the course of representation. In addition, towards the end of the semester, students will participate in case rounds, during which students present and lead class discussions on their active "real life" cases at the Legal Services Center. There is no final examination or final paper for this course. Students will be evaluated based on their preparation for and participation in class exercises and discussions.
A clinical practice component is required of all students. Clinical placements will be at the WilmerHale Legal Services Center. Due to the litigation emphasis of the clinics, students enrolled in this course are strongly encouraged to enroll for 3 or 4 clinical credits, however, students may also enroll for 2 credits. Enrollment will occur during clinical registration. Please refer to the Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs (http://www.law.harvard.edu/academics/clinical) for clinical course registration dates and early add/drop deadlines.
For more information please call Robert Greenwald at rgreenwa@law.harvard.edu or (617) 390-2584.