Education Justice Clinic

Education Justice Clinic - LAWN715

6 Credits

Children who are racial minorities, immigrants, those with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds face barriers to a high-quality public education in Suffolk County. They are pushed out of school through exclusionary school discipline, are discriminated against, and are often denied the services and supports they need in school. Seeking to reverse these trends, the Education Justice Clinic represents children in civil rights, school discipline, and special education advocacy. We also collaborate with community groups and other disciplines in broad efforts at policy and social reform. Clinic students work primarily on special education and school discipline cases. In these cases, law students partner closely with low-income families to help their public school students obtain supports and services to address the child’s educational and behavioral needs. Students participate in various stages of the representation process including intake; interviewing; investigation; filing of complaints, motions, and briefs; settlement negotiations; advocacy at school-based meetings; and representation in mediations, trials, and hearings. The design of the clinic and timeline of special education cases gives students an opportunity to gain direct responsibility and experience with all stages of adversarial litigation. Students also learn to work effectively with the health science, educational, and mental health professionals who serve as the clinic’s expert consultants and witnesses. The clinic’s work does not end there. We also, when helpful for our clients and when student interest and availability permit, represent clients in family court, in civil rights actions at the state and federal level, in personal injury matters arising from incidents at school, and in school discipline proceedings. We also collaborate in broader impact efforts to stop school pushout and the criminalization of youth.