"Does It Really "…End With Us?""
Forbes cited research led by Joan Meier on the reality that mother’s claims of abuse in parental court increase their chances of losing child custody.
The Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics were founded in 1971, and were dedicated in 1991 to acknowledge the generous support of Jacob Burns (LLB '24, Hon. LLC '70). A longtime trustee of the University, Burns (1902-1993) was renowned as a lawyer, artist, and philanthropist. GW Law is proud to honor this significant contribution to the "uplifting and maintenance of the legal profession," and his fearless advocacy of the principle of "equal justice under the law."
The Clinics, an educational curriculum as well as a public interest legal practice with GW Law, provide a deep experiential learning environment for students as they represent clients and hone their skills. Clinic students, who are certified to practice as lawyers in a range of jurisdictions and at both the local and federal level, work directly with individual and organizational clients in matters involving intellectual property protection, transactional law, family law, appellate litigation, housing and health law, and more than a dozen practice areas in between. Students enjoy close supervision by law school faculty, gain real world lawyering experience, and engage in professional development that increases their job marketability.
The Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics operate under the direction of Associate Dean Laurie S. Kohn. The Managing Attorney & Associate Program Director for the Clinics is Andrea R. Johnson, and the Administrative Manager is Milagros Tudela.
Contact Us: 2000 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052 | 202.994.7463 | Hours: Monday-Friday; 9 am-5 pm
*Clinic not offered in Spring 2025
Administrative Law Issues & Appeals Clinic
Access to Justice Clinic - Animal Law Division
Access to Justice Clinic - Citizenship & Naturalization Division
Access to Justice Clinic - Family Law Division
Access to Justice Clinic - Nonprofit & Entrepreneurship Division*
Access to Justice Clinic - Prisoner Civil Rights Division
Access to Justice Clinic - Workers’ Rights Division*
Access to Justice Clinic - Youth Justice Division
Number of GW Law Clinics
Client Service Hours Annually
Enrolled Students Annually
Practice Areas
GW Law Faculty to Present at 2025 AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education
April 25, 2025
GW Law faculty are proud to represent at this year's AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education.
GW Law Student Attorneys in Access to Justice Clinic Participate in Prisoner Rights Trial
April 17, 2025
GW Law students in the prisoner civil rights division of the Access to Justice clinic had the unique experience of going to trial in a prisoner rights case.
Advocating for Healthier Futures: Environmental Justice Division’s Impactful Submission to HUD on Lead Hazards
November 25, 2024
The Health Equity and Policy Advocacy Clinic recently celebrated a milestone achievement, thanks to the work of our Environmental Justice (EJ) student team.
The Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics of GW Law offer two-year clinical fellowships to law school graduates who have clerked or practiced since law school.
The Clinical Law Advisory Council (CLAC) supports the Clinical Program in its efforts to innovate and grow over the next 50 years and beyond.
— Julia E. Scolapio, Class of '26
"I believe in the power of a GW education, but participating in the Clinical program, more than anything, has given me the tools and confidence to be an effective leader in the field of law."
— Karoline Nunez Vaughan, JD '17, Immigration Clinic
“Professors Benítez and Vera brought what we learned in the classroom to life. Their mentorship helped give me confidence in my skills as a young attorney and taught me to think outside of the box when analyzing legal issues.”
— Basel Musharbarsh, JD '18, SBCED Clinic
“The Small Business & Community Economic Development Clinic taught me the fundamentals of “why” and “how” to keep clients and their communities at the center of my legal practice — and those lessons still guide my firm today.”
"Does It Really "…End With Us?""
Forbes cited research led by Joan Meier on the reality that mother’s claims of abuse in parental court increase their chances of losing child custody.
"California’s Rent Control Ballot Measure Could Reverberate Across the U.S."
Governing quoted Emily Benfer on the impact of the rising cost of living for millions of Americans.
"Who could get custody of missing Manassas Park mother's baby? Legal expert weighs in"
WJLA-ABC7 quoted Joan Meier on the straightforward argument for custody battles, but included the likelihood of drawn out and “wrenches thrown in the plan.”
Evictions for making too many 911 calls happen. The Justice Department wants it to stop
Emily Benfer told USA Today that crime-free rental ordinances harm communities of color, domestic violence survivors, and low-income populations.