Wayne Law puts legal education to work for the community

At Wayne State University Law School, learning goes hand in hand with serving the community. Through a wide range of clinics and outreach efforts, Wayne Law students provide vital legal assistance to individuals, families and organizations across Detroit and Michigan.

Under the supervision of experienced faculty who lead the clinics and initiatives, students work directly with clients on real legal matters, often serving people who might otherwise struggle to access legal help. Reflecting both diverse community needs and student interests, the clinics and programs span multiple areas of law - including business, civil rights, immigration, real estate, housing, criminal law and more.

"For nearly twenty years, our offerings have demonstrated Wayne State's longstanding commitment to public service, and the Law School's work to democratize the law. There is a real need for these services - approximately 92% of people in the U.S. do not have their civil legal needs met," said Rebecca Robichaud, director of experiential education and pro bono initiatives at Wayne Law. "Each client and case represents a step toward greater access to justice and stronger communities while offering engaging learning opportunities for students. We're providing high-quality legal services and trusted support, delivered with care and professionalism - making a tangible difference in peoples' lives."

Clinics

Wayne Law's clinics, taken for course credit in students' second or third year, immerse students in hands-on legal work while addressing some of the community's most pressing needs. In 2024-25, 71 students worked on behalf of clients through the clinics.

Through the Appeal and Post-Conviction Advocacy Clinic (APAC), students partner with Michigan's State Appellate Defender Office to represent individuals challenging felony convictions or sentences in state and federal courts, gaining experience in appellate and post-conviction litigation while working on cases with life-altering consequences.

In the Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic (AILC), students represent Michigan residents seeking humanitarian immigration relief, release from immigration detention and family reunification. The clinic also works with Detroit organizations to provide brief advice and legal services in community settings. The Immigration Appellate Advocacy Clinic further supports non-citizens who have been ordered to deport or whose claims have been denied by preparing and filing appeals.

Economic stability and neighborhood vitality are the focus of the Business and Community Law Clinic, which provides transactional legal support to small businesses, startups and nonprofit organizations. Students assist with business formation, governance, compliance, intellectual property agreements and tax-exempt status, helping organizations build a strong legal foundation. For community partners like the Perry Outreach Center in southwest Detroit, that support can be transformational.

"For us and probably for others who are under-resourced, the clinic was a lifeline," said Tracey Patterson, president of the Perry Outreach Center, which worked with the clinic while transitioning from a food pantry to a broader community service organization in 2023. "We would not be able to continue to exist without their legal help to make us an independent organization."

Students in the Community Advocacy Clinic collaborate with grassroots organizations and coalitions to advance community-driven initiatives and policy goals. Each semester, the clinic centers on a different issue, with past projects addressing local government transparency in Detroit, civilian oversight and policing practices, and education and legal resources related to cancer.

Health-related legal needs are addressed through the Legal Advocacy for People with Cancer Clinic, a medical-legal partnership with the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center. Students in this clinic address challenges related to insurance coverage, housing, employment, life planning and access to public benefits facing individuals with cancer. The legal solutions reduce stressors that can complicate medical treatment and recovery. The compassion law students demonstrate is matched only by the wonderful health care team members with whom they work closely to provide holistic care to individuals living with cancer. Students educate health care staff and the community about these legal issues, compelling patients and their families to seek assistance as early as possible to maximize their quality of life. Additionally, students participate in an interprofessional walk-in clinic, the Community Homelessness Interprofessional Program (CHIP), where they interview individuals experiencing homelessness, or are very low income, to identify legal issues and make appropriate legal referrals.

Experiential learning opportunities

Beyond the clinics, Wayne Law's experiential learning opportunities, which are completed as voluntary extracurriculars, provide additional pathways for students to engage in public service.

The Student Pro Bono & Public Interest Program connects students with nonprofits, legal service providers, attorneys, and community and government organizations offering free or reduced-fee legal services, reinforcing the profession's responsibility to serve. To date, participating students have contributed more than 13,000 hours of pro bono legal services.

Housing stability is a central focus of the Warrior Housing Corps, where students provide legal assistance to tenants in housing court by staffing eviction dockets, drafting pleadings, negotiating resolutions and conducting door-to-door outreach. The corps also proactively engages undergraduate and J.D. students, as well as community members, in policy discussions to address root causes of housing instability.

Students also help support Wayne Law's annual expungement fair, where they work with community members seeking to remove eligible criminal records from public view and clear barriers to employment and opportunity. Through the Expungement Navigators group, undergraduate students provide guidance on the legal process and connect participants with legal resources.

Together, these clinics and outreach efforts reflect the mission of Wayne State University Law School - to pair rigorous legal education with meaningful community impact, ensuring students graduate not only with practical skills, but with a deep understanding of the law's power to serve the public good.

Please consider investing in the work of the clinics by making a gift. Visit giving.wayne.edu or contact Rob MacGregor, senior director of philanthropy at Wayne Law, at 313-577-4141 or [email protected].