As mentioned in the application instructions, the clinic application process utilizes a ranking system.  Students rank the clinics to which they seek admission, in order of preference.  Once the application deadlines have passed, each clinic reviews the applications from all students who have ranked that particular clinic as their first choice.  Each clinic will then select students to fill its available seats from that “first choice” pool.  If the number of available seats in a clinic exceeds the number of applications it has received from “first choice” applicants, that clinic will then review the applications submitted by students who ranked that clinic as their second choice, third choice, and so on, until the clinic fills its slots.  To the extent past numbers are predictive, many, but not all of our clinics will have more “first choice” applicants than seats to fill.  In other words, if you rank a clinic as your second or subsequent choice and that clinic receives more first choice applicants than it has seats to fill, your application will not be considered by that clinic.  Note, however, that if enough first choice applicants decline their offer or withdraw from a clinic, the clinic may eventually have to consider students who ranked it second or lower.

Unfortunately, there are a limited number of seats in our clinical program.  Each year, about 500 students apply for the approximately 300 available spaces in our clinics.  Most clinics give preference to students entering their final year of law school.  As a result, many students who do not get into a clinic will have another opportunity to obtain a seat the following year.  It is likely, however, that at least 70 rising third/fourth year students will not obtain a seat in any of their choices.

In light of this acceptance rate, we understand that students seek ways in which to maximize their chances of getting into a clinic. On the following three pages, you will find clinic application statistics for the past five years. If you intend to apply to more than one clinic, these statistics may help you predict, to some extent, the likelihood of getting into a particular clinic if you rank it as your second or subsequent choice. We strongly recommend, however, that you avoid using these statistics as the sole factor in determining which clinics to rank and the order in which to rank them. Not every clinic is a good fit for every student. It is inadvisable to select a clinic simply because, based on past statistics, you believe you are guaranteed a slot in that clinic. You should consider which clinics would be right for you based on a number of factors, such as:

• How will the clinic’s time demands and work flow fit with your other commitments?
• Does the clinic teach the type of skills you would like to acquire (for example, how to write a brief, contract or policy proposal; how to argue a motion or examine a witness)?
• Does the clinic practice in an area of law that interests you?
• Do you want to try something new? Will the clinic give you a chance to practice a type of law that you may not have the chance to do again in the foreseeable future?
• Will the clinic provide you with experience related to your career objectives? (This may be of particular importance to students specializing in public interest law.)
• Who teaches the clinic? What is their supervisory style?
• What do students who have taken the clinic say about their experience?
• Based on your own self-assessment, do you meet the clinic’s stated selection criteria?

Revised February 20, 2008 (MA)