NCJ Number
55318
Journal
Journal of Legal Education Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 352-369
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE CONSUMER PROTECTION CLINICAL COURSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES (UCLA) SCHOOL OF LAW, A COURSE IN WHICH CASE SUPERVISION IS PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCY PERSONNEL, IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE FORMAT OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION CLINICAL COURSE INCLUDES A SEMINAR COMPONENT THAT TREATS SUBSTANTIVE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW AND CONSUMER AGENCY STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS AND A FIELD WORK COMPONENT THAT CONSISTS OF STUDENTS WORKING UNDER SUPERVISION IN THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CONSUMER FRAUD UNIT, THE LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY'S CONSUMER FRAUD UNIT, AND THE LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S CONSUMER FRAUD UNIT. A TOTAL OF 20 STUDENTS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE 15-WEEK PROGRAM. EACH STUDENT IS ASSIGNED TO A PARTICULAR AGENCY AND A SPECIFIC ATTORNEY IN THAT AGENCY. STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK AT LEAST 12 HOURS PER WEEK IN THE AGENCY. STUDENTS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO ATTEND APPROXIMATELY SEVEN SEMINARS CONDUCTED AT THE LAW SCHOOL. WORK PERFORMED BY THE STUDENTS IN THE AGENCIES GENERALLY CONSISTS OF SOME MIX OF THE FOLLOWING: DRAFTING COMPLAINTS, AFFIDAVITS, INTERROGATORIES OR OTHER LITIGATION DOCUMENTS; LEGAL RESEARCH AND MEMORANDUM WRITING; PARTICIPATING IN CONFERENCES BETWEEN AGENCY ATTORNEYS AND PERSONS UNDER INVESTIGATION; FACTUAL INVESTIGATION; DRAFTING PROPOSED LEGISLATION; OBSERVING AND SOMETIMES PARTICIPATING IN COURT PROCEEDINGS; AND DISCUSSING COMPLAINTS WITH INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS. IN ADDITION, SOME STUDENTS WORK ON A SPECIAL PROJECT AN AGENCY HAS UNDERTAKEN. THE SEMINAR COMPONENT IS REQUIRED TO ENABLE THE STUDENTS TO GENERALIZE FROM THEIR SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES AND ALLOW THEM TO COMPREHEND MORE FULLY THE IMPORT OF THOSE EXPERIENCES. WHEN POSSIBLE, PERSONS ACTIVE IN THE CONSUMER PROTECTION FIELD ARE INVITED TO BE SEMINAR LEADERS AND PARTICIPANTS. SOME EXAMPLES OF SEMINAR SUBJECTS ARE DISCUSSED. (RCB)