Wayne Law clinics, programs put legal education to work for the community

“For nearly twenty years, our clinics and programs 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. “Each client and case represents not only a learning opportunity, but also a step toward greater access to justice and stronger communities. Our students are providing high-quality legal services and trusted support, delivered with care and professionalism—making a tangible difference in peoples’ lives.”

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 immigration relief, including asylum, family-based petitions, and humanitarian protections. The clinic serves asylum seekers and immigrants navigating a complex legal system—particularly those facing removal—and works closely with community organizations to share information about immigrant rights. Students assist clients with bond proceedings, visas, family reunification, and related matters. The Immigration Appellate Advocacy Clinic further supports noncitizens who have been ordered deported 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 assist cancer patients with challenges related to insurance coverage, housing, employment, life planning, and access to public benefits, helping reduce the legal stressors that can complicate medical treatment and recovery.

Beyond the clinics, Wayne Law’s experiential learning programs, which are completed as a voluntarily extracurricular, 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, the students in the program 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.

Students also help community members clear barriers to employment and opportunity through the Expungement Navigators Program, which assists individuals seeking to remove eligible criminal records from public view. Launched as part of the College to Career pilot projects, the program partners with community organizations to host expungement fairs, offering guidance on the legal process and connecting participants with legal resources.

Together, these clinics and programs 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.