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Legal Clinics
“Real clients, real cases”
Veterans & Servicemembers Law Clinic
“In our Veterans and Servicemembers Law Clinic, we assist clients who have served our nation, and we give students actual hands-on litigation experience in a variety of civil, criminal, and administrative cases at the state and federal levels.”
Tony KolencAssociate Clinical Professor of Law, Director of the Veterans and Servicemembers Law Clinic
The Veterans and Servicemembers Law Clinic (VSLC) provides students the opportunity to help military servicemembers and low-income veterans navigate legal issues in a variety of cases. Working with actual clients, students assist those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, representing them in litigation (e.g., cases involving religious liberty, consumer law, landlord-tenant law), administrative proceedings (e.g., upgrading military discharges, obtaining disability benefits), and veterans treatment courts. The clinic emphasizes practical experience in all facets of representation, including client interviewing and counseling, legal research and writing, and negotiation and litigation advocacy. Students learn the substantive law and procedure relevant to the practice of law in these areas and gain a better understanding of the challenges facing those who serve our nation.
“The clinic has given me a sense of purpose. I realize what I have been missing thus far in my legal career is the ‘why’ to my work. I realize now, in a palpable way, that the work of a lawyer is meaningful and real, not simply a set of abstract logic puzzles. For the first time in my law school career, I can honestly say that I look forward to becoming a lawyer.”
Joshua Mireles2023 Ave Maria School of Law Graduate
Intellectual Property Law Clinic
In the Intellectual Property Law Clinic you will interview a potential client or clients and obtain details of an invention, proposed trademark, or copyright work, and (1) conduct a “prior art” search on the invention and report the results to the client, and if appropriate prepare at least one provisional patent application for filing in the U.S.P.T.O.; (2) conduct a search for existing trademarks and tradenames similar to the proposed trademark, and if appropriate prepare an ITU or regular trademark application for filing in the U.S.P.T.O.; or prepare a registration of the copyright work for registration in the Library of Congress. Invention disclosures must be kept confidential to preserve patent rights and as a student you will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with the clinic.
The Gregory T. Holtz Estate Planning & General Practice Clinic
“Students who have taken the Estate Planning and General Practice Clinic, often comment that their favorite part is working with the clients and feeling like they are really helping people. Students also are grateful that they have additional experience and skills they can list on their resume by working with different technology platforms. Finally, many students like having a reference for The Florida Bar and future employers.”
Lisa C. Williams, CFP®, M.B.A, J.D.Adjunct Professor and Supervising Attorney,
In Estate Planning and General Practice Clinic, students help clients with basic estate planning matters.
Students have the opportunity to gain experience applying their book knowledge to real client situations. In partnership with the Baker Senior Center, Legal Aid of Collier County, and other community partners, the Clinic serves as an extension of our Catholic tradition of service and an outreach to Naples and surrounding communities.
The Clinic students learn how to work in a legal practice setting using the CLIO practice management system for a paperless office. Clinic students have the opportunity to gain experience in drafting estate planning documents using the Wealth Transfer Planning system from Interactive Legal. Using Westlaw Form Builder students also learn how to draft Notices, Petitions and Orders.
Creating and presenting an educational estate planning seminar, Clinic students have the opportunity to take complex concepts and share them in an understandable way with attendees, practicing both public speaking and interpersonal skills.
In addition to working with clients, Clinic students have the opportunity to review current articles on related topics and apply their knowledge to these real-life situations for some lively discussions. We even host guest speakers at the Clinic who are using their legal background in a different, but related career, such as serving as an Independent Trustee or Professional Guardian.
Clinic students typically say the most enjoyable part of the Clinic experience is working with Legal Aid of Collier County to serve first responders and veterans at the “Wills for Heroes” event each fall.
“The Estate Planning Clinical has been an insightful, rewarding experience because I am able to use my estate planning education and use this for practical application to drafting necessary estate planning documents and forums to real-world clients. Not only am I able to gain practical experience with applying what I have learned at Ave Law about estate planning to real clients in need, I am able to give back to those in the community that are the most in need which makes this experience rewarding and impactful. I highly recommend anyone to apply for the Estate Planning Clinical to gain real-world experience with creation of client estate planning documents and plans, but also give back to the community for a rewarding and impactful experience.”
Katherine KohrsAve Maria School of Law, Class of 2024