As Dallas' public law school, UNT Dallas College of Law incorporates community engagement and practical legal experience into its approach to legal education.
Through experiential learning, students work with faculty, legal professionals and community organizations to develop the skills required for legal practice while contributing to the legal needs of the communities they serve.
At UNT Dallas College of Law, experiential education is an essential part of preparing students for the practice of law. Through supervised legal work, advocacy competitions and community engagement, students apply classroom knowledge to practical legal challenges while developing the skills and professional judgment needed to serve clients and communities.
Our experiential education programs connect legal theory with practice, providing students with opportunities to work with clients, engage in legal problem-solving and experience the responsibilities of the legal profession.
Experiential education is integrated throughout the J.D. program. Students develop essential lawyering skills through classroom instruction, supervised legal experiences and opportunities for public service.
These experiences emphasize:
Through these experiences, students gain practical insight into the legal profession while preparing to represent clients and address real-world legal issues.
The Community Lawyering Centers provide legal services to individuals in Dallas neighborhoods while offering students supervised experience working directly with clients.
Under faculty supervision, students assist with matters involving family law, landlord-tenant disputes, expunctions, Class C tickets and other legal issues. Students gain experience with client counseling, case preparation and legal problem-solving while serving the community.
The Joyce Ann Brown Innocence Clinic provides students with opportunities to examine claims of actual innocence involving individuals incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Students review trial records, evaluate witness testimony and examine potential new evidence, including developments in forensic science. Through this work, students gain experience in legal research, case analysis and post-conviction review.
The Community Engagement Program (CEP) connects students with volunteer and pro bono opportunities throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Students complete 75 hours of community service while participating in activities such as wills clinics, expunction assistance, driver's license restoration and other community-based legal initiatives.
The program reinforces the role of public service in the legal profession while helping students develop communication, research and problem-solving skills.