Centers and Clinics
Information for Law Students
Course Descriptions
Student Enrollment Applications and Certificate Information
Applications for clinics are available from Student Affairs during the end of February and the first week of March (for Summer and Fall), and during first week of October (for Spring). Deadlines for submission are posted on the applications and published in FlaLaw. After the application period, Student Affairs will email clinic offers and students must respond within 48 hours of the course schedule posting for that semester. Upon acceptance, students are then automatically registered and begin the process of applying for CLI certification.
Usually, waiting lists exist for all clinics. Students who wish to maximize their likelihood for enrollment are advised to plan ahead, take appropriate prerequisite courses and gain preference points by taking additional courses as listed for each Clinic. It is advisable to apply for Clinics (particularly those with a requirement of a preparatory seminar) in the spring of your second year. If you do not gain admission in the spring, you will have a second opportunity in the fall.
Legal Intern Certification (CLI)
Students are certified by the Florida Supreme Court for practice in the clinics (both Civil and Criminal Law but not Mediation or Conservation) through application and by meeting the requirements of Chapter 11, Rules Regulating The Florida Bar (aka "Student Practice Rule").
To be eligible to become a CLI, you must first register with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and receive a "clearance letter." This will take at least 3-6 months. A copy of this letter is generally required as part of your application for a clinic needing CLI certification.
There are two ways to register with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. First, you can choose "student registration," as part of your normal application for the Florida Bar. You may have already done this. Second, if you do not intend to sit for the Florida Bar, you can choose "Certified Legal Intern (CLI) Registration" only. For more information, see the FAQ at http://www.floridabarexam.org/. Pay particular attention to the questions: "May I register as a first-year law student" and "How do I meet the clearance requirement for the Certified Legal Internship (CLI) program."
After students have registered for the Civil and Criminal Law Clinics, they must complete an application for CLI certification through clinic staff. After the Dean of the Levin College of Law certifies the student, clinic staff submits the CLI application to the Florida Supreme Court for approval.
After Graduation Certification: Certification can be renewed after graduation if: (1) you will be working for a public agency or legal aid office; and (2) you have previously been certified under the student practice rule and have successfully completed a Clinic.
County Court Mediator Certification
Students completing the County Court Mediation Clinic are eligible for certification as County Mediators. Certification is administered for the Florida Supreme Court by the Florida Dispute Resolution Center, lasts for two years, and entitles mediators to conduct county court mediations. Certification can be renewed easily and carries a continuing mediation education obligation.