Drake Legal Clinic

Drake Legal Clinic
Name	Drake Legal Clinic
Formation	1970s
Type	Legal clinic
Headquarters	Des Moines, Iowa
Location	Drake University
Leader title	Director

Drake Legal Clinic is a clinical legal education program based at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The clinic provides supervised lawyering experiences for students and offers civil and criminal legal services to individuals and organizations in Polk County and surrounding areas. It operates within the framework of American legal education standards established by the American Bar Association and often coordinates with local courts and public interest organizations.

History

The program originated amid nationwide expansion of clinical education following reports like the Wright Commission and curricular reforms of the late 20th century, aligning with developments at peer institutions such as Harvard Law School and Yale Law School. Early collaborations involved local institutions including the Polk County Courthouse, Iowa Supreme Court, and nonprofit advocates like Legal Services Corporation. Over subsequent decades the clinic adapted to shifts marked by landmark legal developments such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 aftermath, the rise of public interest law movements, and professional responsibility reforms influenced by the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Expansion phases saw partnerships with regional actors including the Iowa Department of Human Services and municipal agencies in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Ames, Iowa.

Mission and Services

The stated mission emphasizes experiential learning consistent with national standards from the American Bar Association and access-to-justice goals echoed by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association. Services cover civil litigation, transactional assistance, and limited criminal defense support, frequently intersecting with federal statutes such as the Fair Housing Act and state statutes adjudicated in the Iowa Court of Appeals. The clinic’s public-service orientation parallels initiatives by organizations like Equal Justice Works and state bar sections including the Iowa State Bar Association Pro Bono Committee.

Organizational Structure and Governance

The clinic reports to the Drake University Law School dean and aligns with faculty governance models comparable to those at Columbia Law School and University of Chicago Law School. Leadership typically includes a clinical director, staff attorneys admitted to the Iowa Bar Association, and adjunct supervisors holding affiliations with entities such as the Federal Public Defender and local law firms like Lathrop GPM. Governance incorporates oversight from university committees and external advisory boards modeled after structures at the Fordham University School of Law clinical programs.

Clinical Programs and Case Types

Program tracks encompass tenant advocacy, family law, benefits appeals, small-business transactional clinics, and criminal expungement, echoing case mixes at clinics like those at Georgetown University Law Center and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Typical case types involve administrative hearings before agencies such as the Social Security Administration, landlord-tenant disputes filed in the Polk County District Court, guardianship proceedings in probate courts, and immigration-related matters adjudicated under the Immigration and Nationality Act before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or Executive Office for Immigration Review tribunals.

Student Involvement and Education

Students enroll for credit and participate under supervision of licensed attorneys, following pedagogical models promoted by the Clinical Legal Education Association and curricular reforms influenced by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Practical skills emphasized include client interviewing, motion drafting, negotiation, and courtroom advocacy before venues like the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa and local magistrates. Experiential opportunities often mirror externship pathways available through networks such as National Association for Law Placement and summer fellowships like those from Public Interest Law Initiative partners.

Community Impact and Partnerships

The clinic partners with local stakeholders including the Polk County Bar Association, Iowa Legal Aid, municipal legal clinics, and community health centers patterned after collaborations seen with Legal Aid Society affiliates. Impact metrics reference case closures, pro bono hours, and policy interventions in housing, consumer protection, and family stability, resonating with statewide efforts led by the Iowa Access to Justice Commission and national campaigns like Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law initiatives.

Notable Cases and Achievements

Significant outcomes include precedent-setting administrative appeals, successful indigent defense support, and systemic advocacy influencing local policy adopted by city councils in Des Moines, Iowa. The clinic’s alumni have proceeded to clerkships with judges of the Iowa Supreme Court, positions at firms such as Faegre Drinker and public offices including the Iowa Attorney General’s office. Awards and recognition have come from bar associations and civic groups comparable to honors conferred by the American Bar Association and regional civic organizations.

Category:Legal aid clinics Category:Drake University