ASU Law Clinic

Civil Litigation Clinic

Experiential learning for practical skills in civil litigation

Student attorneys in the Civil Litigation Clinic are certified by the Arizona Supreme Court to represent people who do not have adequate resources to hire an attorney in cases such as consumer fraud, employment discrimination, unemployment insurance benefits, wage claims and tenant's rights.

Student attorneys are involved in all aspects of civil and administrative practice including interviewing and counseling clients, fact investigation, drafting pleadings, motions, conducting discovery such as taking depositions and propounding interrogatories, and sometimes representing clients in trials, arbitrations, and mediation.

The objective of the Civil Litigation Clinic is to train law students to become effective, compassionate practitioners through:

Direct representation of clients under close faculty supervision
Classroom instruction
Individual mentoring

In fulfilling its mission, the clinic strives to promote access to justice by offering free legal services to people who do not have adequate resources to hire a private attorney.

Students who participate in the Civil Litigation Clinic will:

Acquire an understanding of the specific laws and rules that are relevant to the clinic’s practice areas.
Competently use lawyering skills such as interviewing clients, fact investigation, drafting documents, oral and written advocacy, negotiating and case planning.
Apply legal research and problem-solving skills to real cases.
Identify and address ethical and professional issues that arise in civil litigation.
Collaborate successfully with clients, peers, supervisors and other third parties.

Students are expected to spend a minimum of 270 hours in the Clinic during the one semester.

Fall or Spring Semester – 20 hours per week. No externships during the semester and outside work only with prior approval from the director of the Civil Litigation Clinic.
Fall and Spring – Must be free on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after class and all day on Fridays.
Summer Semester – 27 hours per week. No other classes, externships or outside work during the semester.

Included in those hours is a mandatory seminar class of a minimum of five hours per week.

The Civil Litigation Clinic is a one-semester course.

Credits: six graded credits
Grading Criteria: grading rubrics assessing diligence, thoroughness, representation and classroom participation are provided at the beginning of the semester.
Pre- or Co-Requisite(s): Evidence, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law and Professional Responsibility

Returning students are generally invited to return to the Clinic. They must spend a minimum of 45 to 90 hours in the Clinic during the one semester (1 to 2 credit hours available). They must have registered and successfully completed the Clinic course previously.

Clinic application deadlines

Students may apply via Atlas during the application period listed below.

**IMPORTANT!** - Externships and Clinics – Students who have applied for an externship or clinic and been accepted may decline upon offer without consequence. However, once a student has accepted an externship or clinic, any student who drops the externship or clinic without prior approval by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will be subject to the 12-month ban.

Clinic leadership

Tracy Ortega

Director of the Civil Litigation Clinic and Associate Clinical Professor of Law

Bobby Murphy

Instructor in the Civil Litigation Clinic

Teddy Gonzalez

Law School Fellow for the Civil Litigation Clinic

The Civil Litigation Clinic accepts limited inquiries for services from the public. If you believe you have a valid civil legal claim you may submit the above application for consideration by visiting ASUCivilClinic.org.

Hear from our students

Kevin Guizzetti

Civil Litigation Clinic student

“Joining the Civil Litigation Clinic was the single most beneficial experience I had during law school. It offered me a unique opportunity to work on actual cases and hone my lawyering skills in a way no classroom ever could. The clinic wasn’t just another part of my law school curriculum—it was a game-changer that helped flattened law’s steep learning curve. It’s more than an educational experience; it’s a bridge to becoming a confident and capable practitioner, ready to tackle whatever challenges the legal world has in store. I’d urge any student to seize this opportunity, as it truly prepared me for the realities of law practice.”

Kristin Leaptrott

Civil Litigation Clinic student

“Over the past 30 years, I have hired law clerks and recent law graduates and have the opportunity to review many resumes. One of the first items that I search for is clinical experience in law school because we then know that the new associate will have had actual experience practicing law and representing clients in real-life cases. That's a huge advantage.”

On This Page:

Experiential learning for practical skills in civil litigation

Objectives

Learning outcomes

Time commitments

Course information

Returning students

Clinic application deadlines

Clinic leadership

Tracy Ortega

Bobby Murphy

Teddy Gonzalez

Hear from our students

Kevin Guizzetti

Civil Litigation Clinic student

Kristin Leaptrott

Civil Litigation Clinic student