Beginning in 1947, the Clinical Program at the Dedman School of Law was among the country’s first to sponsor a community legal clinic. Today, it remains a national model of excellence. The Program has evolved over the years, reflecting changing perspectives in legal education and innovation in legal practice. However, at its core, the Program remains committed to the ideals that shaped it from its inception: public service, professional responsibility, and outstanding skills training. The Program now encompasses six specialized clinics and three projects:

Civil Clinic - Represents low-income clients in matters ranging from housing disputes to elder advocacy to civil rights litigation. The Consumer Advocacy Project, made possible by a grant through the Texas Office of the Attorney General, reaches out to the local bilingual Hispanic community and helps resolve consumer complaints with recourse to formal litigation and focuses on informal advocacy, negotiation and mediation strategies, as well as community education.

Criminal Prosecution Clinic - Works in partnership with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of misdemeanor offenses.

Criminal Defense Clinic – Represents Dallas county citizens charged with offenses and face the possibility of imprisonment. It works with the Dallas Public Defender’s Office and provides students with felony trial experience. The Death Penalty Project exposes students to actual death penalty cases and combines classroom teaching with practical experience.

Federal Taxpayers Clinic - Was the first tax clinic in the country with the authority to represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Tax Court. The clinic represents low-income taxpayers needing to resolve tax problems with the Audit, Appeals and Collection divisions of the I.R.S. and the U.S. Tax Court.

Small Business Clinic - Introduces student attorneys to practical applications of business formation and provides needed representation for small start-up companies and individuals developing private nonprofit entities.

W. W. Caruth, Jr. Child Advocacy Clinic - Represents children who have been abused and neglected in Dallas County. The Clinic is appointed by juvenile district court judges to serve as guardian/attorney ad litem. Interdisciplinary lectures given by psychologists, forensic detectives, child development specialists and social workers are a significant component of this clinic.