Prospective Housing Justice Clinic Clients
How do I apply for legal assistance?
Generally, the Housing Justice Clinic is connected with clients at the Lancaster County Courthouse on the day of their eviction hearing through the Tenant Assistance Project. If an eviction action has been filed against you in Lancaster County, you can simply come to the second floor of the Lancaster County Courthouse, located at 575 S 10th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, 15 to 30 minutes before your scheduled hearing to receive free legal services through the Tenant Assistance Project.
The Housing Justice Clinic is not currently accepting new clients outside of eviction defense work through the Tenant Assistance Project. However, you can reach out to Clinical Law Program at 402-472-3271 to inquire about possible referrals.
If the Clinic cannot help me right away, what other options do I have?
Free Legal Resources:
Legal Aid of Nebraska provides free information, referrals, advice, self-help services, and representation to qualifying low-income individuals with civil (non-criminal) legal issues, including housing-related cases. You can apply for services from Legal Aid online at http://www.legalaidofnebraska.org, or by calling the Access Line at 877-250-2016 on Mondays and Wednesdays between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. or on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Nebraska Free Legal Answers is a website maintained by the American Bar Association where members of the public can post legal questions about civil (non-criminal) matters at no cost, and for licensed Nebraska attorneys to answer. You can get started online at https://ne.freelegalanswers.org/.
Nebraska Online Legal Self-Help Center is a website administered by the Nebraska Judicial Branch help individuals represent themselves in Nebraska courts, including forms and information provided by the Nebraska Supreme Court Committee on Self-Represented Litigation as part of the Nebraska Supreme Court's commitment to ensure that all Nebraskans have access to the courts. You can get started online at https://nebraskajudicial.gov/self-help.
Fee-Based Legal Resources:
Nebraska Find-a-Lawyer is a website administered by the Nebraska State Bar Association that exists to help members of the public find qualified attorneys to take cases on a paid or commission basis. You can get started online at https://www.nefindalawyer.com/.
Are student-attorneys licensed to practice law?
All Student-Attorneys participating in the Housing Justice Clinic are senior certified under sections 3-701 to 3-706 of the Nebraska Supreme Court Rules governing attorneys and the practice of law. This means that Student-Attorneys can practice law—i.e. appear in court, prepare briefs, and counsel clients—under the supervision of an attorney licensed in the State of Nebraska. In order to qualify for senior certification, law students must have successfully completed 60 credit hours of coursework and be certified by their law school’s dean as being of good character and competent legal ability, and as receiving adequate training and supervision to competently fulfill their work.
Housing Justice Clinic Student-Attorneys work under the close supervision of Clinic Director Rachel Tomlinson Dick, who is a licensed attorney in Nebraska with extensive training and expertise in housing law.
Can I be confident in the legal advice student-attorneys provide?-
Yes. In addition to having taken relevant coursework in advance of participating in the Housing Justice Clinic, all Student-Attorneys receive in-depth instruction on housing law and training in the key skills they will need in the Clinic, including client interviewing and counseling, conducting negotiations, and appearing in court. Additionally, all legal work is performed under the supervision of a highly qualified licensed attorney who provides hands-on guidance and support to the Student-Attorneys.
Prospective Housing Justice Clinic Students
How do I sign up for the Clinic?
Third-year law students can apply for the Housing Justice Clinic through the College of Law’s clinical application process that takes place each spring.
Are there any opportunities available to 1L and 2L students?
Yes! The Housing Justice Program facilitates pro bono volunteer opportunities available to all Nebraska Law students through the Tenant Assistance Project. You can find more information and sign up for pro bono opportunities through Paladin.
Prospective Tenant Assistance Project Volunteers
How do I get more information and sign up to volunteer?
You can find more information and sign up for pro bono opportunities through Paladin. Or feel free to reach out to the Housing Justice Program directly for more information by calling 402-472-3271.
Do I have to be a law student to volunteer?
No! Although there are some types of volunteer roles that require legal training, there are others that are open to law students and community members alike. Specifically, community members can participate in TAP Outreach and can assist with non-legal work at the Lancaster County Courthouse. You can find more information and sign up for pro bono opportunities through Paladin.
How should I track my volunteer hours for the Pro Bono Initiative?
To receive credit toward a Pro Bono Certificate and/or the Pro Bono Honor Roll, students at Nebraska Law must record their hours in Paladin. Visit the College of Law’s Pro Bono Initiative page for more information, including videos step-by-step videos demonstrating how to record your pro bono hours.