PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO THE ADDICT - AN EXPERIMENTAL LAW SCHOOL CLINICAL PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 52155
• Journal: Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 3-16
• Author(s): G F UELMEN; J W ELDRIDGE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Federal Legal Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

RECOGNIZING THE POTENTIAL OF LAW SCHOOL CLINICS AS A RESPONSE TO THE UNMET NEED OF LEGAL SERVICES IN DRUG PROGRAMS, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DRUG ABUSE FUNDED A 3-YEAR EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM IN LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

Abstract

THE LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL WAS AN IDEAL SETTING FOR THE PROGRAM SINCE IT WAS ALREADY OPERATING A COMMUNITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE IN WHICH A STAFF OF ATTORNEYS SUPERVISED STUDENTS PROVIDING REPRESENTATION TO INMATES AT THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN AND TO MEMBERS OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY WHO COULD NOT OTHERWISE AFFORD COUNSEL. A COURSE IN DRUG ABUSE LAW WAS ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED PART OF THE LAW SCHOOL CURRICULUM, AND THE SCHOOL ALSO SPONSORED A CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION COURSE IN THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE OF DRUG CASES FOR PRACTICING ATTORNEYS. THE TRAINING DESIGN OF THE PROGRAM WAS RELATIVELY SIMPLE. AFTER A BRIEF PRIOD OF ORIENTATION AND ACADEMIC TRAINING, STUDENTS WERE PLACED ON SITE 1 OR 2 DAYS EACH WEEK AT SEVERAL DRUG PROGRAM LOCATIONS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. WORKING UNDER THE FULL-TIME SUPERVISION OF AN EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY, STUDENTS COUNSELED CLIENTS REGARDING LEGAL PROBLEMS AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, REPRESENTED CLIENTS. AS A LONG-RANGE GOAL, IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT STUDENT CASE WORK WOULD EXPOSE LEGAL PROBLEMS THAT RECURRED WITH SOME FREQUENCY AND MIGHT BE DEALT WITH EFFECTIVELY BY LAW REFORM EFFORTS SUCH AS CLASS ACTION LITIGATION. AN EVALUATION OF THE LAW SCHOOL CLINIC INDICATES THAT IT IS A HIGHLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR MEETING SOME OF THE NEED FOR LEGAL SERVICES IN DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. PRIMARY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AT THE LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL ARE THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE STUDENT PREPARATION, SELECTIVITY IN CASES THAT ARE ACCEPTED, AND THE CLOSE SUPERVISION OF STUDENT WORK. CALIFORNIA PERMITS SUPERVISION AT A RATIO OF 10 STUDENTS TO 1 ATTORNEY, ALTHOUGH IT WAS FOUND IN THE EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM THAT A RATIO OF 8 STUDENTS TO 1 ATTORNEY SHOULD NOT BE EXCEEDED. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY TRUE WHEN THE CASELOAD WAS BROADENED TO INCLUDE CRIMINAL CASES REQUIRING MORE FREQUENT COURT APPEARANCES. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)