Clinical Studies & Intensive Externships

Clinics offer direct experience under the supervision of both a professor and a supervising attorney.

An experiential education at AJMLS is more than simply learning from experience. Students are expected to integrate theory and reflect upon the impact of their experiences on their professional development. Law clinics provide hands-on-legal experience to law school students and services to various clients. As they represent clients from the Metro Atlanta community and beyond, clinical students benefit from close guidance from clinical faculty and supervising lawyers. Applications for clinics and intensive externships are posted to 12Twenty.

ClinicsSemesters RequiredMinimum Credits (each semester)Fall SemesterSpring SemesterSummer Semester
AJMLS Fulton County Family Law Externship2 semesters4 creditsYesYesNo
Fulton County Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program1 semester2 creditsYesYesYes
Landlord Tenant Hybrid Clinic2 semesters4 creditsYesYesNo
Micronesian Intensive Externship1 semester2 creditsNoNoYes
Veteran Law Intensive Externship1 semester3 creditsYesYesYes

*denotes consecutive semesters required

AJMLS Fulton County Family Law Externship

The Fulton County Family Law Externship Clinic operates out of the Fulton County Superior Court where students assist litigants with simple family law matters, participate in 30-day conferences, and make limited appearances on behalf of pre-screened clients.

  • GPA Requirement: 3.0 or higher
  • Pre-Requisite: Domestic Relations (3)
  • Certification: Student / Third-Year Practice

Fulton County Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program

The Fulton County Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program offered in the Fall, Spring, and Summer, allows students to earn 2 to 3-credits per semester for participation in the program. Students receive 20 hours of general civil mediation training and training in Landlord/Tenant Law, Section 8 and Public Housing Law before mediating cases. Participating students will mediate landlord/tenant disputes and other disputes later in the year, including cases handled in the State and Magistrate Courts; particularly small claim civil issues such as disputes between neighbors, consumers and businesses and creditors and debtors.

  • Pre-Requisite: Mediation (2)

Landlord Tenant Hybrid Clinic

The AJMLS Landlord Tenant Hybrid Clinic combines traditional academic learning with practical, real world law practice experience. The goal is to help students learn specific subject matter concepts and then apply them to assist Atlanta residents obtain better outcomes when conflicts arise with landlords. Participating students will become better problem-solvers, flexible thinkers, develop applicable professional skills, and explore pro bono work on a deep and concrete level. Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, the students will put into practice basic litigation skills such as client interviews, document reviews, issue spotting, drafting pleadings, negotiation with adverse parties, and bench trial preparation for eviction clients represented in Fulton County Magistrate Court. Clinic is offered in the fall and spring. 3L students have priority.

Qualifications:

  1. 2.0+ GPA
  2. In good standing with the school
  3. All first-year courses complete
  4. *Student Practice Act required to represent clients in court

Micronesian Hybrid Externship

In the Micronesian Hybrid-Externship, students will act as a law clerk for the Supreme Court for the Republic of Palau or the Yap State Court. Students will learn about the history, culture, and legal structures in the Republic of Palau and Yap State in the classroom component of the course. In the experiential component of the course, students will perform legal research, draft bench memos, and draft orders. Students will have opportunities to interact with court staff and judges. Students must perform 47 hours of legal work for each credit hour (141 hours total) and participate in the classroom component. Eligible students must have successfully completed all first-year courses, be in good academic standing, and have at least a 2.00 GPA. Satisfies experiential credit requirement. Limited to twelve (12) students.

Micronesian Intensive Externship (Summer Only, Overseas)

The Micronesian Externship places students in legal offices throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, The Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Territory of Guam. Students gain direct legal experience in a multi-cultural and tropical environment. Eligible students must have successfully completed all first-year courses, be in good academic standing, and have at least a 2.00 GPA. Satisfies experiential credit requirement. *This program is only offered during the summer semester and can require selected students to complete the externship overseas at the designated placement site.

Veteran Law Intensive Externship

Under the supervision of licensed attorney(s), externs will assist attorneys in conducting interviews, counseling veterans and addressing and resolving legal issues of veterans in the Metro Atlanta areas.

Requirements:

  • Semesters: This is a minimum 1-semester externship program (Fall, Spring, and Summer).
  • Credit Hours: 3-credits minimum each semester
  • Certification: Student Practice Act Certification