Clinics

Where theory becomes practice.

Clinics allow students to hone their craft, working on real cases affecting real people. You’ll make a powerful difference in the lives of the clients you serve while gaining practical legal experience comparable to working in a real law firm. 

Our clinics provide pro bono legal services to clients who could not hire an attorney otherwise.  By working with real clients and cases, you gain a deeper understanding of the social and ethical responsibilities of practicing law.   

Distinguish yourself from other job applicants through clinic experience — explore the possibilities.

American Indian Wills Clinic

The relationship between the U.S. Government and tribes makes estate planning particularly complicated.

Under the supervision of a faculty clinician, students in the Wills Clinic provide wills and estate planning services to American Indians owning trust or restricted property in Oklahoma. Clinic students are primarily responsible for all case-related work including fact gathering, developing legal theories, and initial document drafting. During the semester, students are expected to provide legal services for an average of 6 to 10 hours per week outside of class time. The classroom component complements students’ fieldwork.

Prerequisites: Legal Profession and Wills, Trusts, and Estates. American Indian Law or Tribal Law is recommended, but not a prerequisite.

For Clients Seeking Services, Contact Us Now.

The Collaborative: Law Clinic for Business and Innovation

Students, under close faculty supervision, provide legal assistance in a variety of early-stage legal matters, including entity formation, contract drafting and review, intellectual property protection, and other transactional matters to business startups, entrepreneurs, and community nonprofit organizations to help them establish successful for profit and nonprofit enterprises. The clinic targets entrepreneurs and innovators located in the underserved Oklahoma City community who are not able to afford retained legal counsel. In the clinic seminar, students will learn the substantive law and practical skills needed to effectively advise entrepreneurial clients. We will also look closely at broader ethical considerations around power dynamics, advising businesses about adopting a business strategy that focuses on the three pillars of the environment, social, and governance (ESG), and having a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

Prerequisite: Corporations. Intellectual Property Law will be helpful, but not required.

For Clients Seeking Services, Contact Us Now.

Oklahoma Innocence Clinic

Oklahoma City University School of Law is home to the Oklahoma Innocence Project, the only Innocence Project in the state. Students in the Oklahoma Innocence Clinic work as part of the Innocence Project to identify and rectify wrongful convictions by conducting investigations and making recommendations regarding litigation. Students draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and appear in court to obtain post-conviction relief for the clinic’s clients. Students in the clinic participate in weekly meetings devoted to training and case assessment.

Prerequisites: Wrongful Convictions

Learn more at okinnocence.org

Norick Municipal Law Research Clinic

The Norick Municipal Law Research Clinic, in partnership with the City of Oklahoma City’s Municipal Counselor’s Office, provides students an opportunity to explore and research municipal law. Students are paired with attorney mentors and research issues handled by the office, including criminal justice, civil litigation, labor and employment, land use and economic development, trusts, utilities, elections, and finance. Students develop professional skills through live client meetings, in-depth research, and drafting formal research memoranda. The semester-long experience culminates with a client presentation where students present and discuss their research findings.

No prerequisites required.

An application is required for students to participate this clinic.

Housing Eviction Legal Assistance Program (HELP) Clinic

A staggering 200 families face eviction in Oklahoma County every week. Many of these families have limited knowledge of their rights as tenants and many do not have access to an attorney before reaching Oklahoma County’s Forcible Entry and Detainer docket. OCU Law has received a generous grant from the Oklahoma Bar Foundation to create HELP.

HELP was created to provide pro bono legal assistance to those facing either lease disputes with a landlord or eviction by informing them about their procedural and substantive rights, and we hope, detouring them from facing the consequences of eviction.

The program is directed by attorney Richard M. Klinge. OCU Law students who have a community-driven work ethic are recruited to help these families while gaining experience with basic legal skills.

As rent throughout the country continues to rise, so will the number of families needing this assistance. HELP’s goal is to alleviate some of the stress families face in troubled times.

Prerequisites: Legal Profession and Pre-Trial Litigation

For Clients Seeking Services, Contact Us Now.