Clinical Programs
Turn legal theory into action.
Practice law while you learn it—representing clients, handling cases, and building professional skills through 20 distinct legal clinics and externships.
Create real change while building professional expertise.
Since 1973, our clinical program has helped law students become skilled practitioners. Through 20 distinct clinical and externship opportunities, you’ll represent real clients, handle actual cases, and develop the professional skills that define exceptional lawyers.
Law Clinics
Join professional legal teams solving real cases.
As a clinic student, you’ll work alongside expert faculty to provide legal advice and litigation or transactional assistance for real clients. Every interested JD student is guaranteed at least one clinical experience during their second or third year, with additional summer opportunities available locally, nationally, and internationally.
Building bridges between disciplines.
Rather than studying law and your specialized field separately, our joint programs weave together coursework from both disciplines, building connections between legal frameworks and specialized knowledge that enhance your understanding of both fields.
Gain insider access to legal practice.
Externships embed you directly in law offices, nonprofit organizations, and judicial chambers throughout the state, country, and world. With guidance from both site supervisors and WashU Law faculty, you will gain firsthand experience working alongside practicing lawyers and judges across all areas of law.
Design your own faculty-guided legal experience.
The Supervised Practicum is available when your learning goals extend beyond our established clinics and externships. Create a customized fieldwork opportunity for specialized legal practice not otherwise offered in our curriculum.
