Community & Economic Development Housing Clinic

This course is designed to give students practical experience representing tenants in summary housing court proceedings. Students will receive a grounding in New York residential landlord-tenant law, with a focus on affirmative, group litigation (e.g. proceedings to appoint an Article 7a administrator, housing part actions, etc.). Students will also work on local and state policy campaigns aimed at strengthening tenants' rights and preserving affordable housing. The Clinic will emphasize the acquisition of the following lawyering skills: interviewing and counseling, working with organizers and interpreters, drafting of pleadings, motion practice, negotiation, legislative drafting, and community education. Readings will focus on residential landlord-tenant law, theories of law and organizing, and concrete lawyering skills. In addition to their clinical work, students will write a number of reflection pieces over the course of the semester based on the readings and their cases.