Clinics

Simmons Legal Clinics

Civil Practice Clinic

In the Civil Practice Clinic, students under direct attorney supervision provide civil legal services to those 60 years of age and older in the 13 southernmost counties of Illinois. Students receive instruction in substantive areas of the law (basic estate planning, adult and minor guardianships, advance directives, etc.) that are commonly encountered in serving older clients in rural communities. Students are introduced to, and practice, legal skills such as case management, legal drafting, client interviewing, preparing clients for court appearances, and appearing in court, among others. Students handle multiple client matters, manage their own case files, and utilize practice management and other software applications typically used in the actual practice of law.

Juvenile Justice Clinic

Students enrolled in the Juvenile Justice Clinic work with an experienced clinic attorney and perform legal services and duties to minors for whom the clinic attorney has been appointed guardian ad litem. The guardian ad litem represents the best interests of these minors for whom neglect, abuse or dependency petitions have been filed in Jackson County, Illinois.

Immigration Clinic

SIU Simmons Law is expanding its partnership with the nonprofit, The Immigration Project (TIP), to offer a 3-credit clinical course focusing on legal issues of noncitizens in immigration detention. Students conduct interviews of immigration detainees arranged in coordination with TIP, research and write about immigration law and procedure, and observe immigration hearings. In addition to learning about substantive immigration law, students hone their client interviewing skills, learn to work effectively with interpreters, become familiar with immigration court procedures, and may work on proposed immigration regulations or pleadings in relevant cases.