Clinics and Experiential Learning
The Plumeri Center is New York Law School’s home for experiential learning. Through our top-tier programs, we offer students the opportunity to turn theory into practice. Our courses not only fulfill your experiential learning requirement but also allow you to learn by doing through clinics, simulation courses, externships, and more.
Lawyering From Day One at The Plumeri Center
Experiential learning is an integral part of the NYLS experience. Starting in their first year, students have the opportunity to participate in counseling, interviewing, and negotiating exercises in their foundational Legal Practice course. During their upper-level years, students may select from a wide array of experiential learning courses to hone their lawyering skills.
Clinics
NYLS’s clinics provide students with opportunities to represent real people and work on actual cases. Rigorous as it is rewarding, the clinical experience instills in students a sense of professionalism, empathy, and know-how. The School’s wide range of clinical offerings exposes students to cutting-edge practice areas, including asylum and immigration, civil rights, family law, housing, criminal prosecution and defense, cyberbullying, elder law, intellectual property, juvenile rights, legislative advocacy, mediation, post-conviction remedies, public policy and regulatory advocacy, transactional law, and more. Each clinic is guided by expert faculty and attorney supervisors.
Simulation Courses
Simulation courses prepare students for working with clients by giving them the opportunity to practice lawyering skills in a controlled environment. Taught by expert faculty, adjuncts currently in practice, and judges, simulations courses are led by individuals who bring their professional experience into the classroom. In a simulation course, students will build their lawyering skills through complex, realistic case scenarios, actor simulations, role-play exercises, and mock trials.
Externships
Through NYLS’s Externship Program, upper-level students earn academic credits while gaining practical experience in a supportive real-world setting. Students can choose to pursue externships that match their interests through NYLS's programs: the Financial Services Law Externship program, the Judicial Externship program, the Law Office Externship program, or the Washington, D.C. Honors Externship program.
Other Experiential Learning Courses and Programs
In addition to clinics, simulation courses, and externships, NYLS offers students the opportunity to pursue a multitude of other experiential learning courses and programs, supporting their development of valuable, hands-on skills.
Office of Clinical and Experiential Learning • T 212.431.2179 • E ocel@nyls.edu