For more than 20 years, Memphis Law Legal Clinics have enabled third-year student attorneys to make the connection between legal theory and legal practice by offering them the opportunity to represent actual clients under close clinical faculty supervision. Student attorneys are specially licensed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

The clinic is located on the lower level of the Memphis Law building with a separate exterior entrance plaza for clients. Clinic facilities include a research library, interview rooms, conference rooms, and offices equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

During a three-week orientation period, substantive law, skills, and ethics in the subject area of the designated clinic assignment are introduced. All clinics help student attorneys develop core legal skills, regardless of subject area, making the clinical experience transferable to any area of practice.

Emphasis is placed on:

• Client interviewing and counseling
• Fact and witness investigation
•  Formal and informal pretrial discovery
• Negotiation and settlement
• Drafting of letters, motions, pleadings, briefs, or legal documents
• Motions practice
• Use of experts
• Mediation preparation
• Trial preparation and trial advocacy

The clinical program uses a client-centered approach, requiring the student attorney to visualize her/himself in the client’s circumstances. This approach allows students an opportunity to explore the various roles attorneys assume in society, including trial attorney, transactions attorney, interviewer, negotiator, counselor, mediator, facilitator, community builder, legislative advocate, and officer of the court. Student attorneys also are introduced to holistic legal practice, focusing on representation in all forums in which the client may have a legal problem or need a legal solution. 

The Memphis Law Legal Clinics emphasizes the promotion of the highest values of the legal profession as a complement to classroom instruction:

• Personal integrity
• Ethics and professionalism
• Holistic and collaborative approaches to problem solving
• Vigorous client and community service
• Social justice obligations

The clinics fulfill a critical community service by providing free legal services to under-represented clients – including children, the elderly and victims of consumer fraud – thus developing first-hand knowledge of ways attorneys can promote social justice and use their law degrees in service to society.

Clinic Faculty

• Daniel Schaffzin, Director of Clinical Programs and Externships and Assistant Professor of Law
• Donna S. Harkness, CELA, Professor of Clinical Law and Director, Elder Law Clinic
• Christina A. Zawisza, Professor of Clinical Law and Director, Child and Family Litigation Clinic