The Clinical Law Center

Where justice meets practice for the next generation of civil rights lawyers.

For generations, Howard Law has been at the forefront of civil rights advocacy and social justice. At the Clinical Law Center, students represent real clients, work on real cases, and help shape the future of justice in America.

Serving individuals, families, and organizations in Washington, D.C. and beyond.

Our Impact: Numbers Tell Part of the Story
Real Clients. Real Cases. Real Impact.

Through ten live-client clinics and nine externship programs, students represent real people facing real challenges—from families fighting eviction to entrepreneurs protecting their intellectual property, from individuals seeking criminal justice reform to communities demanding accountability from those in power.

Stories Behind the Numbers:

Numbers alone cannot capture the full measure of our impact:

In the Criminal Justice Clinic, students secured acquittals, dismissals, and clemency for clients—including helping secure a presidential commutation for a Florida veteran serving life for a non-violent crime. Students launched the "Culture Not Evidence" campaign to protect rap and hip-hop artistic expression from misuse as criminal evidence.

In the Fair Housing Clinic, student attorneys stopped same-day evictions, negotiated settlements forgiving over $25,000 in disputed rent, and built tenant associations from the ground up—empowering communities to fight for safe, affordable housing. 

In the Civil Rights Clinic, students drafted amicus briefs filed at the U.S. Supreme Court, met with government officials representing the United Mexican States, and attended oral arguments before the nation's highest court.  

In the Estate Planning and Heirs' Property Clinic, students testified before the Maryland General Assembly, helped families navigate complex heirs' property issues spanning generations, and provided estate planning services to communities that have historically lacked access to these critical legal protections.  

In the Movement Lawyering Clinic, students presented at the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, supported reparations commissions in three Maryland cities, and provided legal analysis for community-led campaigns seeking to transform unjust systems. 

In the Investor Justice and Education Clinic, students recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars for elderly investors defrauded by major financial institutions, presented at the SEC's annual Investor Clinic Advocacy Summit, and provided sophisticated securities representation rivaling that of large law firms. 

In our IP Clinics, students secured patent grants and trademark registrations for inventors and entrepreneurs, helping clients protect their innovations and build sustainable businesses.  

For Community Members

How we serve the community (insert short paragraph explain that Howard's Law Clinical Law Center offers free or low-cost legal services through student-run clinics supervise by experienced faculty.)

How to Request Legal Help

Contact the Clinical Law Center

• Phone: [insert phone number]
• Email: [insert intake email]

For Howard Law Students

The Future of Justice Begins Here

At Howard Law's Clinical Law Center, we don't just teach students about justice- we empower them to achieve it. 

Every brief filed, every client served, every community empowered brings us closer to the world we seek: one where everyone has access to excellent legal representation and where the law is a tool for liberation, not oppression. 

This is more than a legal education. This is the training ground for the leaders who will shape justice for generations to come. 

Frequently Asked Questions