Family Empowerment & Legal Access Clinic - 2251

Services to the Community

The Clinic is primarily a brief advice and limited legal service provider. Students interview, counsel, and assist litigants involved in child custody and child support disputes. Clients are eligible for services if the children at issue reside in Allegheny County and the client is low income. Clients may reach the clinic through a variety of paths including referrals from community service organizations and the Client Services Center in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division.

Description of Seminar Component

The clinical seminars prepare students to succeed in their client representation and draw collective lessons from their fieldwork. Prior to the commencement of the fall semester, the clinic meets for an intensive orientation session to lay the foundation for fieldwork. During the semester, students meet once a week for seminars devoted to a variety of topics. These topics include lawyering skills, substantive law, and the development of professional identity. As the semester progresses, seminars turn to rounds where students engage in group problem solving and skills practice. Seminar intensity and frequency tapers as the year progresses. In the spring semester, seminars cover additional litigation skills and shift to primarily drawing lessons from fieldwork.

Description of Fieldwork

Students in clinic interview and advise clients, conduct necessary fact investigation and legal research, draft legal documents, and appear on behalf of clients in court. In some cases, students may negotiate resolutions with opposing parties or advocate for a client’s interest before the Alleghany County Family Division’s Pro Se Motions Court. Fieldwork is supported through rigorous supervision meetings conducted consistently and frequently during the semester. Students meet individually with clinical faculty on a weekly basis where they engage in case planning, strategizing and reflection. 

The exciting and impressive responsibilities of transitioning to law practice in clinic can come with unpredictability and demands on a student’s time. Students are expected to complete 107 hours of fieldwork in the first semester for 2.5 credits, and 127 hours in the second semester for 3 credits. Students are encouraged to discuss any concerns they have with clinical faculty prior to registration.

To enroll, students must have completed four semesters of law school and be available on either Tuesday OR Thursday mornings from 8:30 – 12:30 PM to staff the Legal Advice Clinic at the Court of Common Pleas.

Enrollment is through application only. Interested students shall submit an updated resume and a one paragraph statement of interest to Nancy Alemany-Alvarez (nma63@pitt.edu).

Interested students will then meet with Professor Adawi prior to being cleared to enroll. Once they accept their seat, faculty permission is required to drop the course to ensure that students are provided with a reliable learning environment.

Students who have taken family law will be given preference.

Students selected for the fall semester are automatically guaranteed enrollment in the spring semester, although they still must register for the second semester.