Clinical Practitioner-in-Residence Program at AUWCL

In addition to training law students, the AUWCL Clinical Program prepares accomplished lawyers to be clinical teachers through its Practitioner-in-Residence program. Since the program's inception, 24 practitioners have gone on to tenure track or long-term contract positions at law schools nationwide, including four who have joined our own tenure track faculty. Practitioners join the clinical faculty for up to three years. They take part in a structured training program, work closely with experienced clinical professors, and participate in the vibrant intellectual community that defines our program.  Practitioners typically supervise eight clinic students and co-teach the weekly clinical seminar and case rounds with a senior faculty member. After the first year, practitioners also teach one non-clinic course per year.

Formal training takes place each summer in seminars that are led by teams of permanent clinical faculty members and more experienced practitioners.  During the academic year, practitioners meet bi-weekly with a senior clinician for “rounds about supervision.”  Both clinical and non-clinical faculty mentor practitioners, including advising them when the practitioners are ready to enter the law teaching market.

Nearly every practitioner in the program completes at least one article for publication, and AUWCL supports practitioners' scholarship. Practitioners receive research support from student assistants and from our professional research librarians. While practitioners cover clinic cases during the summer, they also have time to work on their scholarship.

Finally, Practitioners receive support to attend the annual AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education, where they frequently give presentations, and the AALS Annual Meeting. Additional support is often possible to attend other conferences.