Education Advocacy Clinic
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The Education Advocacy Clinic works to enforce students’ rights in Tucson's K-12 schools by providing legal representation in school discipline and special education matters. Clinic students from the J.D., M.L.S., and B.A. in Law programs work together on education advocacy cases, supervised by Clinic Director and Associate Clinical Professor of Law Diana Newmark.
Clinic students work in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative environment and seek to empower clients and their families in navigating education issues. The clinic regularly partners with public defense lawyers and local non-profits, with a particular focus on serving children who are involved in juvenile delinquency, child welfare, or immigration matters.
All interested students should apply through the College of Law's clinic application. Deadlines may apply for JD students and space is limited to first-come-first-served BA in Law and MLS students.
Certified Limited Practice Student: If you have taken or will be taking the following courses while enrolled in the clinic--LAW 402/508, LAW 410/510—and are pursuing LP licensure and are in the final semester or year of your MLS or BA in Law studies, you may qualify to be certified as a limited practice student. This certification allows you to provide legal advice under the supervision of the clinic director. If you are accepted to the clinic, more information on this process will be provided to you.
"The Education Advocacy Clinic has been one of the best parts of my law school experience. Not only have I learned so much about education law, I have also been able to gain real-world experience advocating for students and their families when they have issues at school. My work in the clinic has improved my research, writing and communication skills and it's an experience I would recommend to every law student."
- Jordan Young, JD Class of 2024
Info for Students
- Credits: 3
- Requirements: Application
- Grading: standard A/B/C (etc.)
- Application Instructions: J.D. students should apply through the College of Law’s clinic application. B.A. and M.L.S. students should reach out to Professor Newmark for an application.
- Course qualifies as experiential learning for LPs pursuing licensure in the Administrative Law practice area
Request Assistance
The Education Advocacy Clinic accepts new referrals when classes are in session at the College of Law. Generally, the clinic is open mid-August through November and mid-January through April. To request more information and ask about becoming a new client, see contact information below.
Leadership
Diana Newmark is an Associate Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law, where she directs the Education Advocacy Clinic. Professor Newmark previously was a Climenko Fellow and Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School. Prior to that, she was a staff attorney at the Children’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. She also served as a Skadden Fellow at The Legal Aid Society in the Bronx, New York, where she represented court-involved children in school discipline and special education matters. Professor Newmark received her JD, cum laude, from New York University School of Law and BA in philosophy from Columbia University. Before attending law school, she taught special education for four years in the Bronx, New York. In addition to her work at the University of Arizona, Professor Newmark sits on the board of directors of the Arizona Center for Disability Law.