CIVIL LITIGATION CLINIC EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CLINIC HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY & DISABILITY MMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS CLINIC CRIMINAL LAW CLINIC PROSECUTOR PROGRAM ADULT PUBLIC DEFENDER PRO UVENILE PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAM HUMAN TRAFFICKING CLINIC INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CLINIC AFRICA I-PARLIAMENTS CLINIC LEGISLATIVE PRACTICE PROGRAM MASSACHU STATE HOUSE INTERNSHIP AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE PRACTICE CLINIC AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXTERNSHIP COMM COURTS EXTERNSHIP GOVERNMENT LAWYERING EXTERNSHIP HEALTH LAW EXTERNSHIP JUDICIAL EXTER EGAL EXTERNSHIP INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL EXTERNSHIP HUMAN RIGHTS SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE DEATH PE SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE CON DRAFTING NEGOTIATION LICENSING LAW AND PRACTICE WORKSHOPS TRANSACTION SIMULATION: SAL AMILY BUSINESS AND RELATED REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION SIMULATION: AUCTION AND SALE OF A PRIVATE COM TRANSACTIONAL LAW CIVIL LITIGATION CLINIC EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CLINIC HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, FA DISABILITY CLINIC IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS CLINIC CRIMINAL LAW CLINIC PROSECUTOR PROGRAM ADULT DEFENDER PROGRAM JUVENILE PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAM HUMAN TRAFFICKING CLINIC INTERNATIONAL H RIGHTS CLINIC WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CLINIC AFRICA I-PARLIAMENTS CLINIC LEGISLATIVE PRACTICE PRO MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE INTERNSHIP AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE PRACTICE CLINIC AFFORDABLE HO EXTERNSHIP COMMUNITY COURTS EXTERNSHIP GOVERNMENT LAWYERING EXTERNSHIP HEALTH LAW EXTER UDICIAL EXTERNSHIP LEGAL EXTERNSHIP INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL EXTERNSHIP HUMAN RIGHTS SEMEST PRACTICE DEATH PENALTY SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE SEM N-PRACTICE CONTRACT DRAFTING NEGOTIATION LICENSING LAW AND PRACTICE WORKSHOPS TRANSA SIMULATION: SALE OF A FAMILY BUSINESS AND RELATED REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION SIMULATION: AUCTION AN OF A PRIVATE COMPANY TRANSACTIONAL LAW CIVIL LITIGATION CLINIC EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CLINIC HO EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY & DISABILITY CLINIC IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS CLINIC CRIMINAL LAW CLINIC PROSE PROGRAM ADULT PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAM JUVENILE PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAM HUMAN TRAFF CLINIC INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CLINIC AFRICA I-PARLIAMENTS EGISLATIVE PRACTICE PROGRAM MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE INTERNSHIP AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE PRA CLINIC AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXTERNSHIP COMMUNITY COURTS EXTERNSHIP GOVERNMENT LAWY EXTERNSHIP HEALTH LAW EXTERNSHIP JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP LEGAL EXTERNSHIP INDEPENDENT PRO EXTERNSHIP HUMAN RIGHTS SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE DEATH PENALTY SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE INDEPE PROPOSAL SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE CONTRACT DRAFTING NEGOTIATION LICE AW AND PRACTICE WORKSHOPS TRANSACTION SIMULATION: SALE OF A FAMILY BUSINESS AND RELATED REAL E TRANSACTION SIMULATION: AUCTION AND SALE OF A PRIVATE COMPANY TRANSACTIONAL LAW CIVIL LITIG CLINIC EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CLINIC HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY & DISABILITY CLINIC IMMIGR and transactional get you RIGHTS CLINIC Clinics, CRIMINALexternships, LAW CLINIC PROSECUTOR PROGRAMpractice ADULT courses PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAM JUV PUBLIC DEFENDER PRORAM HUMAN TRAFFICKING CLINIC INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC WRO real–world experience for your career in the legal profession. CONVICTIONS CLINIC AFRICA I-PARLIAMENTS CLINIC LEGISLATIVE PRACTICE PROGRAM MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE INTERNSHIP AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE PRACTICE CLINIC AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXTERNSHIP COMM COURTS EXTERNSHIP GOVERNMENT LAWYERING EXTERNSHIP HEALTH LAW EXTERNSHIP JUDICIAL EXTER EGAL EXTERNSHIP INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL EXTERNSHIP HUMAN RIGHTS SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE DEATH PE SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE CON DRAFTING NEGOTIATION LICENSING LAW AND PRACTICE WORKSHOPS TRANSACTION SIMULATION: SAL FAMILY BUSINESS AND RELATED REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION SIMULATION: AUCTION AND SALE OF A PRIVATE COM TRANSACTIONAL LAW CIVIL LITIGATION CLINIC EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CLINIC HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, FA DISABILITY CLINIC IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS CLINIC CRIMINAL LAW CLINIC PROSECUTOR PROGRAM ADULT DEFENDER PROGRAM JUVENILE PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAM HUMAN TRAFFICKING CLINIC INTERNAT HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CLINIC AFRICA I-PARLIAMENTS CLINIC LEGIS PRACTICE PROGRAM MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE INTERNSHIP AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE PRA CLINIC AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXTERNSHIP COMMUNITY COURTS EXTERNSHIP GOVERN LAWYERING EXTERNSHIP HEALTH LAW EXTERNSHIP JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP LEGAL EXTER INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL EXTERNSHIP HUMAN RIGHTS SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE DEATH PE SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE SEM IN-PRACTICE CONTRACT DRAFTING NEGOTIATION LICENSING LAW AND PRA WORKSHOPS TRANSACTION SIMULATION: SALE OF A FAMILY BUSINESS AND RE REAL ESTATE HEALTH LAW EXTERNSHIP TRANSACTION SIMULATION: AUCTIO SALE OF A PRIVATE COMPANY TRANSACTIONAL LAW CIVIL LITIGATION EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CLINIC HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY & DISA CLINIC IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS CLINIC CRIMINAL LAW CLINIC PROSE PROGRAM ADULT PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAM JUVENILE P
Prepare to Practice
Pioneering law is our thing.
You’ve heard it before—in order to get a job, you need job experience. So, how do you get that experience? Easily, if you’re a part of Boston University School of Law. See, we offer you a vast selection of clinics, externships, and semester-in-practice placements, where you gain real-world legal experience in courtrooms, law firms, nonprofit orga-
One of the first law schools in the nation to establish clinical programs supervised by full-time faculty, BU Law has consistently expanded its hands-on learning opportunities to provide “real-life” training to students with myriad legal interests and career goals. Most recently, BU Law introduced a Transactional Law program to provide students with the core skills needed to embark on a transactional practice career.
Not just teaching, mentoring. At BU Law, you will benefit from attentive mentoring by supervising faculty, substantive classroom learning that complements your field experience, and the ability to create the ideal learning experience to advance your professional and personal goals. The student/faculty ratio in BU Law’s clinical programs is between 4:1 and 8:1.
Strength in numbers. More than 250 students participate annually in BU Law’s clinics, externships, and legislative and semester-in-practice programs, acquiring the tangible skills that the modern legal profession requires. Every student who wants to participate in a clinical program gets the opportunity. Many students participate in more than one clinic or externship under attorney supervision.
nizations, companies, and government agencies. It is also the reason for our Transactional Law Program, where you learn contract drafting, transaction analysis and negotiation, and other skills required of transactional practitioners.
As a BU Law student, you could be: Litigating real criminal cases in Boston’s courtrooms;
Delving into the inner workings of the federal government in Washington, DC;
Grappling with human rights issues at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland;
Researching and writing bench memoranda and draft decisions for state and federal judges;
Providing legal guidance to corporations and nonprofits in a range of industries;
Representing asylum seekers facing deportation; and
Drafting legislation at the Massachusetts State House;
Defending victims of international human trafficking.
Handling employment claims of workplace discrimination and compensation denial; 3
PROFILE
CLINICS
MICHELLE MCGRATH
Whether you are interested in civil or criminal law, BU Law offers a diverse range of clinics where you can pursue your personal interests in the law while learning practical lawyering skills in actual legal settings. You will work on real cases, representing real clients in the greater Boston area. CRIMINAL CLINICAL PROGRAM Whether representing clients charged with crimes in Boston Municipal and Juvenile Courts or prosecuting defendants in criminal cases in Quincy District Court, you can expect to conduct investigations to formulate trial strategy, file pre-trial motions, participate in plea bargaining, try cases before judges, and make sentencing arguments. CIVIL LITIGATION PROGRAM In partnership with Greater Boston Legal Services and under the supervision of BU Law faculty, you can work on a wide array of civil litigation matters: representing tenants in housing court, claimants in unemployment compensation appeals, parties in divorce and custody proceedings in probate court, claimants in Social Security disability hearings, asylum seekers in deportation hearings, individuals seeking restraining orders, and employees alleging workplace discrimination. Choose among BU Law’s three civil litigation clinics: " Housing, Employment, Family, and
Disability Clinic " Immigrants’ Rights Clinic " Employment Rights Clinic
4
For more information, visit bu.edu/law/clinics
(’13)
HUMAN TRAFFICKING CLINIC In Boston Immigration Court, you can represent human trafficking victims facing deportation and/or applying for a T-visa (a special form of immigration relief for trafficking survivors). You can also collaborate with law enforcement, government officials, nongovernment organizations, and trafficking survivors to identify solutions to combat this widespread and serious human rights violation. WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CLINIC You will screen applications to the New England Innocence Project from prisoners claiming innocence by scrutinizing transcripts, forensic evidence, motions, and appeals in the case. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC Around the globe or at home, you may file briefs on international human rights law issues, participate in universal jurisdiction claims, handle appeals in refugee and international human rights cases, and collaborate with nongovernmental organizations on international human rights issues.
CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY Human Trafficking Clinic (3L) Wrongful Convictions Clinic (3L) Legal Externship (2L)
“
Participating in three very different clinical programs was an integral part of helping me understand the kind of legal work that empowers me to serve my community. My work in the Human Trafficking Clinic gave me one-on-one experience with individual clients, whereas my participation in the Semester-in-Practice program at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights focused on broad-based impact litigation. The Wrongful Convictions Clinic provided an opportunity to review a completed case and be the last chance for a potentially innocent incarcerated client. The clinics help you discover your passions, demonstrate your abilities to future employers, and explore new areas of law and ways of lawyering. They were, and remain, an important part of my career.
”
5
PROFILE
PROFILE
JARED COHEN
STEPHANIE MILLS
(’13)
(’13)
LITIGATION ASSOCIATE AT UNGARETTI & HARRIS, LLP CHICAGO, IL
ASSOCIATE AT WILMERHALE BOSTON, MA Criminal Law Clinic: Boston Municipal Court, Boston Juvenile Court, Quincy District Court (2L spring, 3L fall)
“
In a serious juvenile delinquency prosecution, I saw how our client’s previous record influenced everyone’s perceptions, even though there was little or no concrete evidence against him in the present case. That taught me the critical importance of keeping an open mind and working to discover the full, unbiased facts.
”
In his second semester in the Criminal Law Clinic, Jared Cohen functioned as a defense attorney with full responsibility for representing clients in criminal cases. Drawing on all the resources from his clinical coursework, Cohen learned to be a keen advocate for his clients— which could require vastly different skills and strategies in different circumstances.
Cohen says that his first valuable learning experience was seeing how courts really work on a daily basis. The criminal litigation process can be tortuous, and personalities and instinctive biases can often influence outcomes. He cites one case in which a young man was facing charges of assault and battery with a deadly weapon. While the defendant had an extensive record involving Cohen’s experience in the Criminal Law Clinic serious crimes and had spent time in a juvenile helped him hone his courtroom skills and detention facility, the evidence for this offense explore a potential career path as a prosecutor. seemed to clearly exonerate him. Yet it took He especially appreciated the opportunity months of investigation, discovery, in-court to work in three different courts as a junior compliance dates, and attempts to approach member of the clinic—for defendants in the government before Cohen and his senior Boston Municipal and Juvenile Courts, and colleague were finally able to persuade an for the prosecution in Quincy District Court— assistant district attorney to review the relevant before settling on defense work in Boston evidence and dismiss the case. during his senior semester. 6
Housing, Employment, Family, and Disability Clinic: Civil Litigation (2L)
“
Working on a lengthy case from beginning to end and handling every step of the process was an amazing and rare experience. And because my clinical work took place alongside my coursework, I could implement what I was learning in class immediately and get feedback both in the classroom and in court.
”
Stephanie Mills arrived at BU Law committed to helping victims of domestic violence, and to pursuing a career at a law firm practicing civil litigation. Her work in the Housing, Employment, Family, and Disability Clinic gave her the skills and experience to land the perfect job—as a litigator at a Chicago law firm with an active pro bono program in domestic violence. Knowing that Mills had volunteered at the Domestic Violence Institute at BU-affiliated Boston Medical Center during her first year of law school, Professor Constance Browne, her clinical supervising attorney, quickly identified a divorce case involving domestic violence as one that would both draw on Mills’s experience and help her develop important client counseling and litigation skills. Mills represented the wife in the case, which became increasingly complex. She delivered
several oral arguments at hearings in front of the judge, secured the appointment of a guardian ad litem to represent the children’s interests, prepared and responded to discovery requests, participated in settlement discussions, and drafted a settlement agreement. Mills handled the case through both semesters and even saw it through to completion after her clinic ended, securing a favorable settlement for her client on the eve of trial. Mills credits her coursework in trial advocacy for teaching her how to strategize about the trajectory of a case as well as the practical skills of interviewing clients, drafting documents, and speaking in court. And she credits her time in the courtroom and her work with her domestic violence case for giving her the confidence to succeed in a career in litigation.
7
Recent Placement Sites
EXTERNSHIPS If you participate in an externship, you will attend a weekly seminar and work in a public interest organization, government agency, judicial chambers of a state or federal judge, or in-house legal department in Boston. You may deal with legal issues that range from affordable housing to health law, from criminal prosecution to government regulation. LEGAL EXTERNSHIP Work at a range of organizations in Boston, such as WGBH (Boston’s public television and radio station), BU’s General Counsel’s Office, and the Federal Reserve Bank. AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXTERNSHIP Intern at a state, local, or nonprofit community development organization and experience how various laws, tools, and programs come together to address the challenge of providing affordable housing and sustainable community development.
GOVERNMENT LAWYERING EXTERNSHIP Learn about being a government lawyer through placements in such offices as the US Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, and other federal and state agencies in Boston. HEALTH LAW EXTERNSHIP Immerse yourself in the legal issues facing health care providers, biotech firms, or health advocacy nonprofits in Boston.
JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP Intern at a trial or appellate court in the COMMUNITY COURTS EXTERNSHIP Massachusetts or federal court system and Work on pending cases and projects relating to explore issues related to the roles of the judge the long-term operation of community courts, and the judicial intern. as you are mentored by experienced judges INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL EXTERNSHIP sitting in Massachusetts district, probate, Receive credit for an externship pursued juvenile, and housing courts in and around in conjunction with an independent Boston. study project.
" Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center " Boston Medical Center " Boston University General Counsel’s
" Massport (public authority that
oversees Boston’s airports and seaports) " New England Organ Bank " Political Asylum/Immigration
Office " Brigham and Women’s Hospital " Draper Laboratories " Federal Reserve Bank of Boston " Massachusetts Attorney
General’s Office " Massachusetts Court of Appeals " Massachusetts General Hospital " Massachusetts Superior Court
Representation Project (PAIR) " State Street Bank " US Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts " US Court of Appeals for the
First Circuit " US Department of the Interior " US District Court " US Securities and Exchange Commission " WGBH (public television and radio)
> JOHN BALLA (‘13) LAW CLERK AT US DISTRICT COURT FOR SOUTHERN TEXAS, MIDLAND, TEXAS Judicial Externship (2L), Government Lawyering Externship (2L) “Working in the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, I learned how to spot a bad argument, and my writing improved immensely. I made great professional and personal connections—it was my best law school experience. I received a clerkship with a federal district judge for after graduation in large part because of my experience in the Judicial Externship Program.” > VIKKI NGUYEN (‘13) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW CLERK AT GUNDERSON DETTMER, NEW YORK, NY Legal Externship (2L) “Before law school, I worked at a law firm that specializes in venture capital and early-stage companies, and I’m returning when I graduate. My externship with the general counsel of Charles River Ventures was the perfect fit, and it gave me lots of responsibility and excellent mentoring. My supervisor was a role model in many ways, especially how to be a real counselor in working with clients.” > LINDSEY PARKER (‘13) ASSOCIATE AT BALLARD SPAHR, SALT LAKE CITY, UT Independent Proposal Externship (2L) “BU Law’s externship options gave me the flexibility to work in the legal department of the Romney for President campaign during the presidential primary race. My main responsibility was examining various states’ rules for delegate selection. I saw firsthand how difficult it is to run for office, and how important it is to me to be part of a team working toward a common goal.”
8
For more information, visit bu.edu/law/externships
9
Professor Sean J. Kealy Clinical Associate Professor of Law and Director of Government Lawyering Externship program
SEMESTER-IN-PRACTICE
“
Work full-time for credit and gain intensive experience. BU Law’s exciting Semester-in-Practice program offers numerous opportunities in Washington, DC, as well as Geneva, Atlanta, or—if you choose an Independent Proposal— virtually anywhere in the world. It’s a great way to pursue your specific academic goals. GOVERNMENT LAWYERING IN WASHINGTON, DC Take advantage of our many connections in the nation’s capital to further your professional preparation. Recent placements in DC include: "
Department of the Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
"
Department of Health & Human Resources, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General
"
Drug Enforcement Agency, Office of the Legal Counsel, Diversion Task Force
"
Drug Enforcement Agency, Office of the Legal Counsel, Civil Litigation Division
"
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Administrative Law Judges
"
Federal Communications Commission, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General
"
Department of Homeland Security, General Counsel Office
"
The White House, Domestic Policy Council, Native American Affairs Department
"
Justice Department, Antitrust Division
"
US Senate Judiciary Committee, Majority Staff
"
Chief Judge Karen Caldwell, Eastern District of Kentucky
"
US Senate Permanent Subcommittee of Investigations, Majority Staff
"
Sony Entertainment, New York City
"
Federal Defenders Office, Eastern District of Michigan
"
Legal Advocates for Children and Youth, San Jose, CA
"
Electus, Los Angeles, CA
"
10
HUMAN RIGHTS EXTERNSHIP, GENEVA Spend a semester working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
UN Development Program, Washington Liaison Office
For more information, visit bu.edu/law/sip
DEATH PENALTY EXTERNSHIP, ATLANTA Participate in a fascinating and rewarding semester with the Southern Center for Human Rights, which represents individuals on death row at trial, on appeal, and in the post-conviction review process. INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL EXTERNSHIPS Perhaps your interests are better served in other fields and other places? An Independent Proposal gives you the option to develop your own full-time externship. Students choosing this option have spent their semesters in any number of locales—East Coast, West Coast, and points between. Recent placements include:
The Semester-in-Practice is a real capstone to a BU legal education. We work closely with students to help them find the right placements that will enrich their training and help them succeed as lawyers. We find that employers welcome our students, both because of BU Law’s reputation, and because they can work full-time. Students like Michael Lezaja have found extraordinary opportunities for growth and career advancement.
”
PROFILE An alumnus of Georgetown with an interest in politics and economics, Michael Lezaja was a paralegal at the Federal Trade Commission before law school and always considered returning to the nation’s capital. The Semesterin-Practice, which he pursued during his final semester, was an ideal opportunity. After discussing options with Professor Sean Kealy, Lezaja set his sights on the Department of Justice. His placement was in the National Criminal Enforcement Section of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, which handles international criminal conspiracies, primarily involving price fixing. In his position, Lezaja was immersed in legal research and writing for cases being prosecuted in district courts all over the country. “The demands of day-in, day-out legal writing gave me much-needed practice,” he says. “I think that because I was working full-time, I was given better assignments and was able to work more collaboratively with the DOJ staff attorneys.” Lezaja, who participated in staff meetings and trainings on substantive areas of antitrust law, stresses how important it was for him to simply observe lawyers and their interactions with witnesses and one another, and notes that his mentors gave him valuable advice about preparing for his clerkship.
MICHAEL LEZAJA LITIGATION ASSOCIATE AT ROPES & GRAY WASHINGTON, DC
Semester-in-Practice: US Department of Justice, Division of Antitrust (3L)
(’12)
PROFILE
MICHAEL AYZEN
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS
(’11)
Our legislative programs give you the chance to understand the legislative process at a deeper level by seeing firsthand how laws are drafted, debated, passed, and interpreted. Students in these programs have made real contributions to actual legislation. In both programs, you will work 12 to 20 hours per week in the field and participate in faculty-led seminars. AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE PRACTICE Through classroom and hands-on experience, this program focuses on teaching you how to apply legal theory to help clients advance a bill or project. The seminar covers subjects that affect the legislative process, including: constitutional interpretation by legislatures; theories of representation; legislative organization and rules; lobbying; legislative oversight powers; and legislature-executive agency relationships. As part of the seminar, the class tours the Massachusetts State House and hears from guest speakers practicing law within and related to the legislative system. Choose from two fieldwork options:
" Testifying at committee hearings " Compiling and archiving legislative
histories " Developing strategies for building
coalitions Option 2: Massachusetts State House Internship Intern at the Massachusetts State House for a state senator or representative. In this internship program, you may:
" Drafting and revising legislation " Formulating a strategy to guide bills
through the legislative process " Working to build a coalition to support
or defeat a bill " Advocating for or against a bill or issue
with legislators 12
American Legislative Practice in-House Clinic (3L)
“
When I was doing the research for my report on the anti-human trafficking bill, I grasped the true importance of the legislation—its effect on real people’s lives. I’m glad I could make a difference in the final law, which I hope will deter this crime in the future.
”
" Draft legislation " Evaluate testimony " Participate in planning meetings with
legislators and staff
Option 1: In-House Clinic Assuming the role of legislative counsel to your client, who may be a legislator, state executive office, nonprofit organization, or advocacy group in Massachusetts, you will work to advance your client’s bill or project. Assignments may include: " Researching public policies
STAFF ATTORNEY, COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC COUNSEL SERVICES SPRINGFIELD, MA
" Research questions of law and fact for
proposed legislation " Observe legislative strategy sessions
and negotiations " Attend floor debates and committee
meetings AFRICA I-PARLIAMENTS CLINIC This program enables you to help strengthen African democracies, working remotely from Boston to draft evidence-based legislation and build capacity in the Africa Parliaments Knowledge Network. Students have worked on a wide range of legislation; two examples are a petroleum bill in Uganda and a basic health care bill in Liberia.
For more information, visit bu.edu/law/legislative
When Mike Ayzen began the American Legislative Practice Program, he thought he could help get an anti-human trafficking bill out of committee. Little did he realize that he would do that and much more. Ayzen identified an additional horrific dimension to the practice of human trafficking. His contribution became part of Massachusetts law when Governor Deval Patrick signed the bill a few months after Ayzen’s graduation. Beginning his work by conferring with the staff of Senator Mark Montigny, the author of the legislation, Ayzen realized that the language about sentencing provisions needed to be more specific. He analyzed the bill, comparing it with similar legislation in California and New
York, and called attention to new issues. In this process, Ayzen realized that the bill covered human trafficking only for the purposes of prostitution and labor—but not for selling organs or body parts. This addition was his unique contribution to the bill, and to the eventual law. By the time of the signing, BU Law student Tashena Nobrega (‘13) was interning for Senator Montigny and helped the conference committee hammer out the final language. Since graduation, Ayzen has been a staff attorney for the public defender in Springfield. He says that his Legislative Program work has helped him better understand and work with new legislation that affects his clients.
13
TRANSACTIONAL LAW PROGRAM BU Law’s Transactional Law Program addresses an important need in today’s legal environment. Law firms expect their new hires—from the time they start practicing—to increasingly contribute in a meaningful way to the representation of clients. To be prepared, you need a foundational set of practice skills that you can apply on your first day on the job. The principal goal of our TRANSACTIONAL Complete at least two of the following LAW PROGRAM is to provide these skills to courses: " Antitrust Law students seeking a career in transactional " Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights practice and to those who will need these skills " Business Law: Sales at some point in their careers, regardless of the " Business Law: Secured Financial specific area of legal practice they pursue. Transactions You will receive intensive hands-on training and " Business Law: Uniform Commercial Code practice in drafting, analyzing, and negotiating " Intellectual Property contracts, and in various other practice skills " International Business Transactions required of transactional practitioners. You " Mergers & Acquisitions may pursue a concentration in transactional " Mutual Funds (Investment Companies) practice, or take a few courses in the program. " Partnership Tax I and II Either way, you will have access to wide" Securities Regulation ranging courses and will learn key practice " Shareholder Activism skills taught by our faculty and seasoned " Taxation of Corporations and transactional practitioners. Shareholders TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTIONAL PRACTICE CONCENTRATION, STUDENTS MUST: Complete the following five courses: " Contract Drafting " Corporations " Introduction to Federal Income Taxation " Corporate Finance or Financial Management or Corporate Financial Management " Financial Reporting for Lawyers or Financial Reporting and Control
14
Complete at least two of the following courses: " Bankruptcy Practice: Chapter 11 Reorganization and Sales of Businesses " Health Care Transactions " International Business Agreements: Negotiating, Structuring, and Drafting " Licensing Law and Practice Workshops " Negotiated Mergers & Acquisitions " Negotiation " Private Equity and Venture Capital Transactions " Transaction Simulation 1: Sale of a Family Business and Related Real Estate " Transaction Simulation 2: Auction and Sale of a Private Company
For more information, visit bu.edu/law/transactional
Professor Kent Coit Professor of the Practice of Law Director, Transactional Law Program Kent Coit joined the BU Law faculty after retiring as a partner in the Boston office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he practiced in the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Department for nearly 30 years.
“
Law firms and clients increasingly expect their entry-level attorneys to have a solid foundation in practice skills, as well as an understanding of relevant legal doctrine traditionally taught in law schools. Our Transactional Law Program helps bridge the gap between what students learn in traditional law school classes and what they face when they enter the legal practice arena.
The foundational course of the program is a one-semester course called Contract Drafting. Students who complete this course are eligible to take one of our “capstone” skills-focused courses. These are structured as an intensive semester-long simulation based on an actual business transaction in which students perform the tasks typically assigned to junior, and even more senior, attorneys at various stages in the transaction. We’ve received very encouraging feedback on the course, both from students, and, importantly, from employers. One employer that agreed to take a couple of our students for a Semester-in-Practice and found out about this program basically said, ‘OK, send us students who’ve taken Contract Drafting; we want to choose from them.’ That’s a nice thing to hear, and we’ve received similar feedback from students and other employers that they can see a difference in skill level, which is what the program is all about. That’s what we’re trying to achieve. It’s music to our ears when we hear that.
”
15
Visit BU Law. It’s a great way to get a feel for the place. We’re convinced you’ll be convinced once you’re here. More information on planning a visit can be found at www.bu.edu/law/visit
Admissions Office
Financial Aid Office
765 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02215 617-353-3100 bulawadm@bu.edu
765 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02215 617-353-3160 bulawaid@bu.edu
*W[\WV =VQ^MZ[Q\a Q[ IV MY]IT WXXWZ\]VQ\a INÅZUI\Q^M IK\QWV QV[\Q\]\QWV 16
www.bu.edu/law