The First Amendment Clinic gives students experience in many aspects of a First Amendment and media law practice. The clinic’s workload is different every semester, due to the wide range of matters we will take on. Students have defended libel and invasion-of-privacy suits, assisted in First Amendment-based civil rights claims, argued to unseal court records, fought to make state and federal government agencies release documents, written friend-of-the-court briefs in a wide array of cases, provided pre-publication assistance for authors, helped authors obtain interviews with controversial prisoners, and fought for changes in government policies.
Students can enroll for four, five or six credits. Two credits will be given for the graded seminar portion, and either two, three or four credits will be pass/fail for the client component.
Student attorneys are certified to practice in the clinic by the Arizona Supreme Court. Clinic students will be involved in all aspects of a legal practice, particularly emphasizing interviewing and counseling clients, drafting and filing legal briefs, pleadings and motions, and representing clients in court.
The First Amendment Clinic is a one semester course.
Enrollment limited to 10 students
Students are expected to spend a minimum of between 180-270 hours in the Clinic during the one semester.
Students may apply via Atlas during the application period listed below.
Spring 2023:
Applications: September 23 - October 23, 2022
Offers extended to students: November 1, 2022
Student acceptances due: November 7, 2022 by 9 a.m.
Summer/Fall 2023: Application period: January 13 - February 13, 2023 Offers extended to students: February 20, 2023 Student acceptances due: February 26, 2023
**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.
Gregg Leslie
Executive Director, First Amendment Clinic
Professor of Practice
James Weinstein
Faculty Advisor
Professor of Law