Public Interest Law
As a land grant institution, the University of Idaho College of Law is committed to serving the public and promoting access to justice – and helping our students do the same. The College of Law offers robust curricular offerings to students interested in pursuing diverse careers in public interest law, beyond our formal emphasis areas in Native American Law, Natural Resources & Environmental Law and Business Law. Our Public Interest Law Program consists of five curricular tracks, which provide guidance to students about our doctrinal and experiential course offerings in their areas of interest and connect them with faculty members who can help them along the way:
This track offers opportunities for students interested in antidiscrimination law, individual liberties, immigration law, election law, human rights, and more.
Faculty Mentors: Katie Ball, Benjamin Cover, Jason Dykstra, Geoff Heeren, Ryan Lincoln, Stephen Miller, John Rumel, Rich Seamon
Doctrinal Courses
Constitutional Law I
Constitutional Law II
First Amendment
Evidence
Civil Rights Litigation
Administrative Law
Education Law
Election Law
Federal Courts
Workplace Law
Critical Legal Studies
Immigration Law & Policy
International Human Rights
Jurisprudence
Remedies
Skills Courses
Lawyering Process: Civil
Arbitration Skills: Labor
Trial Skills
Trial Advocacy
Live-Client Experiences
Immigration Litigation & Appellate Clinic
Housing Clinic
Semester in Practice
Field Placement – Public Service
Examples:
ACLU of Idaho
Jesse Tree Idaho
Idaho Legal Aid Services
Pro Bono Opportunities
Examples: Citizenship Days (various locations)
Future public defenders, prosecutors, and criminal justice reformers can take courses and build toward careers in criminal law.
Faculty Mentors: Katie Ball, Aliza Cover, Jessica Gunder, Geoff Heeren, Sam Newton
Doctrinal Courses
Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure: Investigations
Advanced Criminal Procedure: Adjudications
Evidence
Death Penalty Seminar
Advanced Topics in Criminal Law
Criminal Sentencing
Juvenile Justice
White Collar Crime
Immigration Law & Policy
Jurisprudence
Public Defense College (summer)
Skills Courses
Lawyering Process: Criminal
Trial Skills
Trial Advocacy
Negotiation and ADR
Live-Client Experiences
Immigration Litigation & Appellate
Clinic
Community Law Clinic
Semester in Practice
Field Placement – Public Service
Examples:
Ada County Public Defender
Ada County Prosecuting Attorney
Boise City Attorney’s Office
Canyon County Public Defender’s Office
Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney
Federal Defenders of Idaho
Moscow City Attorney’s Office
United States Attorney’s Office (Boise, Coeur d’Alene, or Spokane)
Gem County Prosecutor’s Office
Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office
Idaho Public Defense Commission
Students can choose coursework and gain practical experiences related to economic justice, in areas such as community economic development, low-income taxpayer assistance, and access to housing.
Faculty Mentors: Mark Adams, Wendy Couture, Jason Dykstra, John Hinton, Linda Jellum, Jessica McKinlay, Tim Murphy, John Rumel, Nick Smith
Doctrinal Courses
Contracts I & II
Business Associations
Property Security
Taxation
Business Entities Taxation
Bankruptcy
Tribal Nation Economics & Law
Workplace Law
Securities Regulation
Introduction to Intellectual Property
Jurisprudence
Remedies
Skills Courses
Contract Drafting
Arbitration Skills: Labor
Negotiation and ADR
Civil Mediation
Live-Client Experiences
Entrepreneurship Law Clinic
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
Housing Clinic
Semester in Practice
Field Placement – Public Service
Examples:
Jesse Tree Idaho
Idaho Legal Aid Services (offices in several cities)
Idaho Attorney General’s Office Tax Commission
Pro Bono Opportunities
Examples: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Students interested in family justice can learn about and advocate for the rights of children, parents, and survivors of domestic violence.
Faculty Mentors: Aliza Cover, Merritt Dublin, Jessica Long, Neoshia Roemer
Doctrinal Courses
Constitutional Law II
Family Law
Children and the Law
Elder Law
Domestic Violence and the Law
Family Relations in Indian Country
Wills, Estates, and Trusts
Immigration Law & Policy
Skills Courses
Lawyering Process: Family
Negotiation and ADR
Family Mediation
Trial Skills
Trial Advocacy
Estate Planning
Live-Client Experiences
Family Justice Clinic (Boise)
Community Law Clinic (Moscow)
Semester in Practice
Field Placement – Public Service
Examples:
Fourth District Court family law judges
Idaho Legal Aid Services
Pro Bono Opportunities
Examples: Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA)
This track guides students on courses and career paths related to legislative processes, democratic institutions, and the work of public agencies and national, state, local and tribal governments.
Faculty Mentors: Katie Ball, Benjamin Cover, Dylan Hedden-Nicely, Linda Jellum, Stephen Miller, David Pimentel, Rich Seamon, Karen Wellman, Rachelle West
Doctrinal Courses
Constitutional Law I
Constitutional Law II
First Amendment
Introduction to Idaho Legislature
Election Law
Federal Courts
Administrative Law
State and Local Government Law
Land Use Law & Planning
Public International Law
Native American Law
Jurisprudence
Skills Courses
Statutory Interpretation
Lawyering Process: Civil
Trial Skills
Trial Advocacy
Judicial Clerkships Seminar
Live-Client Experiences
Semester in Practice
Field Placement – Public Service
Examples:
externing for the Governor of Idaho
the Idaho Supreme Court
The United States Bankruptcy Court
District Court for the District of Idaho.
Pro Bono Opportunities
Beyond these curricular tracks, our Public Interest Law Program is bolstered through:
- Our extensive Pro Bono program
- Our partnership with the John Paul Stevens Foundation to provide summer public interest fellowships to four students
- The Idaho Heritage Project, which provides scholarship support for students serving summer internships, externships, or pro bono service in rural communities throughout Idaho
- Networking, mentorship, and advising opportunities through our Career Development Office, and Public Service Externship Program
- Programming and social events that build community at the law school