LAW 601: Mashpee Wampanoag Legal Serv - spring

Prerequisite: 30 units completed; Pre or Co-requisite: LAW 525 & LAW 576 or LAW 620, permission of instructor.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Legal Services Clinic primarily serves clients who are Wampanoag tribal members seeking legal assistance with various other types of civil legal issues, including family law, landlord-tenant law, and government benefits law. Students meet clients at the Tribal Court located in Mashpee, Massachusetts. Students attend weekly seminars at the law school and represent clients under the supervision by an experienced legal services attorney. Clinic students spend an average of 10 hours weekly on their clinical work. In addition, this course affords students an opportunity for the development of a professional identity. Professional identity focuses on what it means to be a lawyer and the special obligations lawyers have to their clients and society. The development of professional identity involves an intentional exploration of the values, guiding principles, and well-being practices considered foundational to successful legal practice. Of the 90 credits required for graduation, students are required to earn at least 65 in courses that meet in regularly scheduled class sessions. This course does not count toward the 65-credit requirement.