• Fair Housing Clinic Seminar—Gilmore
• Syllabus
• Guest Lecturers

Syllabus

Fair Housing Clinic Spring - 2007

Instructor Professor Brian G. Gilmore Office Location G-29 (in clinical area, Notre Dame Hall, across from Ms. Bruce’s office) Phone 202.806.8267

E-mail: I am available by e-mail and do not mind phone calls as well on my cell phone or text messages, within limits (do not abuse this privilege). bgilmore@law.howard.edu gilmorenlsp@yahoo.com (alternative e-mail) 202.549.2277 (cellular phone)

Clinical Program Director: Professor Tamar Meekins tmeekins@law.howard.edu 202.806.8176

Classroom G-106 Houston Hall

Office Hours: Due to the fact the clinical professor is almost always at the law school, it is probably best to simply arrange an appointment or simply stop by the office. However, office hours, with the exception of Fridays, are usually fairly regular. You can also call me on my cell phone as well. Class Meeting Time Fair Housing Clinic meets Tuesday and Thursday each week from 3:30-4:45 (according to the current schedule) unless the class is cancelled or if the class is cancelled for purposes of conducting clinic work.

Course Description: Fair Housing Clinic is a clinical course that combines simulated exercises, discussion of relevant case law, development of advocacy skills, and other clinical law operations and services (provided by students) to advance students’ understanding and ability in the area of fair housing law/housing law and legal advocacy. The clinic is primarily concerned with educational and outreach programs that provide information and advocacy tools to the public on fair housing and housing issues.

Recommended Materials: To be assigned.

TWEN

The clinic will make use TWEN for the posting of the syllabus, updates, assignments, reading materials, and for the submission of some clinical assignments. The password will be provided at the introductory class. The password is confidential as are all materials in the clinic. All students should sign onto the TWEN site for Fair Housing Clinic Spring 2007 at the beginning of the semester. Returning students should especially take note of this.

Course Objectives/Mission

Clinic students acquire crucial skills in community outreach and education, fact gathering, persuasion, legal research and data analysis. Students are also expected to increase their skills in interpersonal communications with the public through the community outreach and educational work. The development of advocacy skills is also important as well.

Course Requirements: As stated previously, all students should expect to participate in, contribute to, or experience the following over the course of the fall semester with respect to the fair housing clinic. This is applicable to returning students as well as new students:

• Community outreach projects (SEE BELOW EDUCATION/OUTREACH & Fair Housing Month activities)
• FAIR HOUSING EDUCATION/OUTREACH: One of our main goals this year is to continue our educational programs and outreach. This is one of the chief areas of focus for the clinic. Our charge is to provide the public with knowledge of fair housing laws, housing laws, and the means by which to solve their problems. We cannot solve every problem although we should be able to solve some problems. But the educational component is student driven, designed and implemented. We should have programs ongoing throughout the semester. No idea is a bad idea so feel free to propose your ideas for education and outreach. The more unique the idea the better it can be.
• APRIL (FAIR HOUSING MONTH): Our work will end in April with Fair Housing Month. We should have events for the first two weeks of that month that are for the public and also for the law school. Again, no idea is a bad idea. Last year, we had symposiums, speakers, outreach programs, street action teams, and many other programs. Identify a speaker to come to the school, do PTA Meetings, go to ANC meetings, these are some examples of what can be done during these two weeks before exams begin.
  • Advocacy Skills
  • Professionalism
  • Legal simulations
  • Writing exercises
  • Guest speakers
  • Pop Quizzes
  • Meetings with instructor on clinical development and personal progress in clinical exercises
  • Satisfactory classroom attendance and participation.
  • Clinic Development. Note to Advanced students: Some of you, if you would like, can work at the Office of Human Rights assisting them on actual cases in their office. This will be determined at the beginning of the semester.

Student Responsibilities

• Attendance: Students, unless other discussed, are required and expected to attend all classes in the Fair Housing Clinic. In these situations, the clinical work will likely involve activity outside the classroom. Students are expected to arrive timely for the clinic rounds and timely for any other meetings relating to the clinic. If for some reason, you will be absent or significantly tardy for class, it is best to contact the instructor prior to the commencement of class. Late arrivals are, by nature, distracting. Please also arrive timely and prepared for any guest speakers. In accordance with the Howard University School of Law attendance policy as set forth in the Student Reference Manual, attendance is mandatory and subject to all provisions of the policy, including the awarding of a failing grade for this clinic. Attendance will be taken for clinic rounds via the circulation of a sign in attendance sheet. If a student is more than 15 minutes late for class, they will be considered absent for the day. Students who fail to comply with the Howard University Attendance Policy will be subject to administrative withdrawal for the class if they exceed 25 percent limit prior to the last day to drop the clinic.
• During clinic rounds, all cell phones and electrical devices must be turned off. At times, you might also be asked to put your laptop away as well.
• Preparation. Be prepared for clinical classes. If the students are unprepared, the discussion and exercises will not be engaging, and the development of the clinic and the clinical skills of the participants will be challenged and/or compromised. Students should expect to be called upon for oral presentation and response in class in order to further the discussion of the principles in the clinic.
• Writing Assignments Complete written assignments in a timely manner. There will be no make-ups for these assignments; in addition, the writing assignments are directly aimed at particular skills you will need to develop once you become a full-time practicing attorney regardless of your field of choice. They provide you with an opportunity to develop your skills under real conditions.
• Individual Meetings Shortly after the beginning of the semester, students will be required to meet on a regular basis with the instructor in order to discuss performance, and address any concerns they may have with respect to the progression of the clinic and how well they are meeting the goals of the clinic as an individual. Sessions should be scheduled in advance during office hours or at a time flexible to both parties.
• Statement on Cheating/Professional Responsibility: All students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Academic Code of Conduct in the H-Book and the Student Reference Manual.

Grading and Evaluation

Grading and evaluation in the clinic will be based upon attendance and class participation, satisfactory completion of clinical assignments, performance in clinical exercises, simulation, and performance and preparation for the mock skills exercises, in addition to any other work as assigned in this clinic. Students will be graded and evaluated specifically on each and every exercise in which they participate in while in the Fair Housing Clinic. All students will be evaluated on the basis of their work produced in the clinic and any and all other assignments they are given through the clinic, whether real or simulated. This actual work includes the following: attendance at mandatory meetings and classes, clinic development assignments, work assignments through cases, and ability to accomplish any and all tasks. This is also defined as legal writing, research, client contact, clinic skills, presentations, class participation, and any other assignments.

In addition, you should remember that this is a clinic and a clinic is actually work in a legal office. You have professional and ethical responsibilities that override any personal matters that might arise during the semester. For instance, if you need to assist with a case or to follow-up in a case of if you have a paper due in another course that impacts your ability to meet a deadline in clinic, you are reminded that you are held to the same standard as a lawyer would be held who would attempt to take a similar position. In other words, weight the ramifications of missing a deadline as a licensed attorney versus missing a plane to Mexico. Your ability to demonstrate a respect for the professionalism that is inherent in legal work is, by nature, part of your final evaluation.

Statement on ADA Procedures

Howard University is committed to providing an educational environment that is accessible to all students. In accordance with this policy students in need of accommodations due to a disability should contact the Office of the Dean for Special Student Services for verification and determination of reasonable accommodations as soon as possible after admission to the University, or at the beginning of each semester. The Dean of the Office of Student Special Services, Dr. Barbara Williams, can be reached at 202.238.2420.