Students in the Economic Justice Clinic represent low-income individuals in civil litigation, regulatory, and transactional matters related to consumer credit and debt, including on issues related to home ownership and foreclosure, car ownership and repossession, and student debt. Students may also work with organizational partners. For example, in any given semester, students may participate in policy projects, provide feedback to state and federal consumer protection agencies, create and disseminate consumer education materials, or participate in complex litigation in support of broader consumers’ rights and consumer law advocacy efforts.
Enrollment Options and Credit Hours
- Full year (fall and spring semester) – 4 credit hours per semester
- Fall semester only – 4 credit hours
Skills Learned
- Client interviewing and counseling
- Fact investigation and application of fact to law
- Legal research and analysis, including learning to navigate a complex legal landscape that intersects with multiple and varied state and federal law and doctrine
- Legal writing, including advocacy, educational, and communication materials
- Legal strategic planning and problem solving
- Negotiation
- Collaboration
- Professional responsibility in the context of real-world complexity
- Giving and receiving feedback, including the value of self-reflection
- Cross-cultural lawyering and empathy
Requirements
- Pre- or co-requisite courses: None
- Recommended courses: Banking Law, Consumer Law, Secured Transactions, Bankruptcy Law
Faculty
Assistant Professor of Law, and Director of the Economic Justice Clinic
(919) 962-2642 | elengold@email.unc.edu