As law students nationwide clamor for more hands-on training, the District of Columbia’s six law schools have joined forces to push for the first major overhaul of rules governing student practice in D.C. in decades.
Law school deans and faculty argue that existing rules are outdated and cumbersome. The proposed changes are aimed at streamlining how students are certified to work in clinical programs and expanding the type of work covered under the rules, from appearing in court in civil and criminal cases to advising nonprofits and small businesses on tax law and contracts.
