The Clinical Experience

Thomas M. Cooley Law School believes that it is imperative that its students receive training, not only in the substantive law, but also in the practical application of the law. The Cooley curriculum is rigorous; it requires 63 hours of required substantive and skills-based courses and 27 hours of elective course work, including a minimum of 3 credits of an intense clinical experience. Students have the option of participating in:

1. Sixty Plus, Inc., Elderlaw Clinic, Cooley's two term in-house, live-client clinic, which provides free legal assistance to elderly residents of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties;
2. The Estate Planning Clinic, a one-term live client clinic, available for evening and weekend students;
3. Cooley Innocence Project, which helps secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned persons;
4. The Domestic Violence Clinic, a two-term clinic in which students represent low-income people in family law and domestic violence matters in Oakland County Circuit Court;
   
5. Approved Externship Sites can be accessed through the Cooley Portal. One of almost 1,000 sites approved by the Cooley Curriculum Committee; or
6. Cooley Externship Program Sites that the student initiates with the assistance of the Clinical Coordinator of Planning, Programs, and Assessment.

Regardless of the student's choice, every Cooley graduate will be well-trained in the practice of law. Cooley's clinical programs enable students to bridge the gap between law school and real world practice.

The Sixty Plus, Inc. Elderlaw Clinic

Sixty Plus, Inc., Elderlaw Clinic is Cooley's live client elder law clinic. The Sixty Plus, Inc. clinical experience enables students (called "legal interns") to interview, counsel, represent and advocate for live clients, all of whom are over sixty years old and reside in Ingham, Eaton, or Clinton counties. Interns, who are closely supervised by the clinical faculty, proceed on behalf of clients in a wide variety of legal matters and activities, including drafting pleadings, arguing motions, negotiating with opposing counsel and conducting trials Under Michigan's Student Practice Rule 8.120.

The Estate Planning Clinic

An outgrowth of the Sixty Plus Elderlaw Clinic, the Estate Planning Clinic provides evening and weekend students opportunities to assist area senior citizens with estate planning issues. This is a one-term program, for 3 credits.

The Cooley Innocence Project

The Cooley Innocence Project is part of the Innocence Network, which has been credited with the release of over 100 wrongfully accused prisoners mainly through the use of DNA testing. In its short life, the Cooley Innocence Project has already assisted one innocent man, Kenneth Wyniemko, prove his innocence, which led to his released after spending nine years in prison after being wrongfully convicted. As Innocence Project Interns, s tudents review case files, screen applications, investigate facts, conduct interviews, and analyze cases. Students also assist assigned attorneys with research and pleadings for post-conviction proceedings. Click here for more information about the Cooley Innocence Project.

The Domestic Violence Clinic

The Domestic Violence Clinic is part of the Family Law Assistance Project (FLAP), a collaboration between Cooley and Lakeshore Legal Aid. Students in the clinic work with FLAP’s staff attorneys representing low-income people in family law and domestic violence matters in Oakland County Circuit Court under Michigan Court Rule 8.120.

Cooley Externship Program

The Cooley Externship Program is a partnership between students, practicing attorneys, and Cooley faculty. In our externships, students may earn up to 10 academic credits for work that they perform under a licensed attorney who has been practicing for at least three years. Each supervising attorney agrees to assign an extern legal work and to act as a teacher and mentor. The supervising attorney is also expected to give the externs regular feedback about their job performance and provide insight into the professional obligations of being an attorney. Externs are required to keep a reflective journal of their experiences and to meet regularly with a Cooley faculty member to reinforce the lawyering skills necessary to perform as an attorney and to help externs begin the life-long process of "reflective lawyering." The close relationship between student, attorney, and professor helps externs to bridge the gap between law school and real world practice.

See a list of example externship placements

Search the Approved Externship Database (requires login through the Cooley Portal)

Applications are available in the Cooley Portal