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Harrison Institute for Public Law - Housing Clinic ruler

Contents
 

Clinical Teaching - Educational Goals

Volunteer Days
Some buildings hold annual “volunteer days” in which our students participate.

Our education goals seek to balance theory and reality.  First, we expect students to learn a variety of “practice skills.”  On the other hand, we believe that in the practice of poverty law, the practitioner cannot perform adequately without a firm foundation in the theories on the nature of poverty and community, the role of the lawyer and the intersections between law, politics, economics and power.  Therefore, we spend a considerable amount of time exploring these issues, both in formal seminars and discussions of cases and projects.

The traditional practice skills we teach include counseling, case planning, research, negotiation and drafting.  In the field of housing and economic development, however, practice skills also include financial analysis, loan packaging, community organizing and education, cultural sensitivity and group dynamics.

Ultimately, the goal of practice is to solve problems.  The problems facing our clients are legal but also economic, societal and political.  We teach the skill sets along with doctrinal and more conceptual material so that students are prepared to address the issues that confront our clients.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Georgetown University

 

Harrison Institute for Public Law
Georgetown University Law Center
111 F Street NW, Suite 102
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-662-9600
Fax: 202-662-9613
Email: see staff link above

Revised September 29, 2006 (Tarek H. Elabbadi)