Experiential Learning

Students in Courtroom

Legal Education Outside the Classroom

Taking what you learn in the classroom and applying that legal knowledge in real, tangible situations is the best way to immerse yourself in the many ways to practice law.

Through our in-house clinics and externships as well as our pro bono opportunities, Carolina Law students are able to learn through the practical application of the law. Hands-on experiences like these that impact the lives of people can be life-changing for both student and client.

Carolina Law is fortunate to have 10 in-house clinics where students can work directly with clients on a wide range of legal problems from handling litigation, transactional and policy matters from start to finish.  All nine of our in-house clinics are staffed by a full-time faculty member. Our externship program also provides students with five different programs to earn credit by working at one of 125 different sites covering over 20 different practice areas.

In compliance with American Bar Association Standard 303, all J.D. students must complete one or more experiential courses totaling at least six credit hours. Participating in a clinic or externship fulfills this requirement.

Participation in our Pro Bono Program is voluntary and students do not receive academic credit. However, Rule 6.1 of the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct states that lawyers have a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. As such, we highly encourage students to participate in pro bono projects as part of their commitment to the legal profession. 

For the last two years, 100% of the graduating class participated in a pro bono project while in law school. Working on real projects and being supervised by practicing attorneys provides great legal references, work experience for resumes and networking opportunities.