Experiential Learning

Experiential education lets students learn through the practical application of law. Through a diverse array of offerings ranging from live-client clinics to field placements and simulated lawyering skills courses, Penn Carey Law students learn what lawyers do, how they do it, and ultimately what it means to be a lawyer. These natural complements to the doctrinal curriculum root students in thinking like a lawyer, and real-life settings allow students to put those analytical and reasoning skills into action. In our nine in-house clinics, students are the “lead attorneys” representing clients under the close supervision of full-time faculty who are seasoned attorneys. Through over a dozen field placements, students work as externs at various governmental agencies or nonprofit organizations, observing and performing a variety of legal functions outside the Law School. In simulation courses, students learn fundamental lawyering skills through case studies, hypothetical exercises, and real-world lawyering assignments. Students begin taking advantage of these experiential opportunities in their second year, and often take multiple courses that expose them to different practice areas and skill sets before graduation.