Public Interest Law Center Florida State University College of Law Tallahassee

Professor Steve Goldstein founded the Center in

Clinical Professors and Co-Directors Ruth Stone and Paolo Annino

The Public Interest Law Center is the Premier Law School Clinic in Florida Unique in Florida by providing each client full legal services Unmatched in providing law students opportunities to advocate in diverse legal forums Recognized as a leader in children’s advocacy by national and international media

Variety of Legal Opportunities No law school clinic in Florida provides a greater variety of legal opportunities than the Center: Jury Trials Circuit Court Bench Trials and Hearings State Administrative Hearings Federal Administrative Hearings Appeals to the First District Court of Appeals Appeals to the Eleventh Circuit, Federal Court of Appeals Clemency Proceedings Mediations Depositions Plea Negotiations

Student Enrollment The Center accepts 16 students a semester The Center has taught over 600 students 8 students per professor The Public Interest Law Center attracts students from around the country.

Teaching Methods Mentoring Trial practice and role-playing Small group discussions One-on-one interactions The Center’s faculty teaching methods consist of:

Learn by Doing The Public Interest Law Center provides law students an opportunity to: Represent clients under the supervision of clinical faculty Put their legal knowledge into practice Develop their lawyering skills Learn professionalism in a real-life setting

Trial Experience The Center’s students conduct 10 to 12 hearings or trials a month.

Children’s Cases Since 1996 Criminal Disability Social Security Juvenile Delinquency Education Law Foster Care Other

Administrative Hearings Students advocate for children in: Special Education Due Process Hearings Medicaid Waiver Hearings Federal Supplemental Security Income Hearings Expulsion Hearings Clemency Hearings Developmental Services Eligibility Hearings

Students use law office management software to track their cases

The Center’s Advocacy Earns International Media Acclaim El Pais Semanal (Spain) Bild (Germany)

The Center’s Advocacy Earns National Media Acclaim New York Times Sunday Magazine National Public Radio 60 Minutes II

The National Jurist magazine ranked the College of Law the 13 th “most wired” law school in the country

The Center Provides Advocacy in the Areas of: Domestic Violence Foster Care Juvenile Delinquency Persons with Disabilities

Domestic Violence Advocacy Students represent victims of domestic violence seeking: Temporary and permanent injunctions Dissolutions Child support Visitation Custody

Domestic Violence Cases Since 1996 OPENCLOSED Total Cases

Foster Care Advocacy Local judges appoint our students to advocate for: Appropriate residential placement Counseling and medical services Food and clothing vouchers Restrictions on psychotropic medications

Juvenile Delinquency Advocacy Plea negotiations Motion hearings Discovery - depositions Trials Students advocate for children in delinquency court:

Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities The Center’s students represent persons with disabilities in: Special education cases - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act & Americans with Disabilities Act Social Security cases (SSI) Eligibility for Developmental Services and Medicaid waiver cases

Children’s Cases Since 1996 Criminal Disability Social Security Juvenile Delinquency Education Law Foster Care Other