The CED Clinic serves low-income and working class communities that are fighting for social and economic justice. The clinic is designed to help build and expand the capacity of grassroots organizations to implement community development projects such as the creation of neighborhood institutions that provide needed services and opportunities. The clinic also works with more established nonprofits in expanding and sustaining their social service programs and organizing campaigns.

Students who completed the CED or Not-for-Profit lawyering seminars are eligible to enroll in the CED Clinic, which is a one semester, 12-credit clinic. Building on their lawyering seminar work, students will continue to develop lawyering skills that are needed to do transactional work for organizations that are working to make a difference in building vibrant, sustainable communities.

Typical student work includes representing start-up organizations in obtaining incorporation and/or tax-exempt status. Students will also work on more complex CED projects such as negotiating and drafting contracts, preserving and creating affordable housing, and counseling clients regarding employment issues. Classroom work will focus on CED theory, skills for organization development and more complex lawyering tasks, role of lawyer in transactional work as well as substantive law related to not-for-profits and their work. Classroom work will also be tailored to the actual clinic projects that students are assigned.