Areas of Study
The University of St. Thomas School of Law, inspired by its social justice mission, is committed to preparing students to become accomplished servant leaders in the practice of law who seek to address the needs and improve the conditions of the disadvantaged and underserved.
Our state, nation and world need passionate lawyers to help close the Justice Gap and tackle the inequities and inequalities that persist in our legal system and society.
St. Thomas Law will prepare you for these challenges and give you an opportunity to start making an impact while you are in law school.
Experiential learning opportunities, such as an externship or legal clinic, will help you build your skills and apply what you are learning in the classroom.
Our mentor program will pair you with a lawyer doing public interest work, such as a public defender or legal aid attorney, to help you gain experience and develop relationships in this area of the law.
Prior to teaching, Professor Moran worked at a criminal defense firm and in the Office of the Illinois State Appellate Defender, where she argued before the Illinois Supreme Court. She now leads the Criminal and Juvenile Defense clinic. Her research focuses on police accountability and reform.
Below are examples of some of the courses offered at St. Thomas Law for students interested in pursuing a career in public interest law.
Experiential Learning
Accelerate your professional development and understanding of the law in a legal externship.
Engage in legal work at a public interest organization or government agency, while examining complex issues of ethics, access to justice and broader public interest policies.
Represent criminal defendants under the supervision of a public defender and gain experience in interviewing clients, criminal procedure and negotiating cases.
Represent and assist clients working in one of our nine legal clinics. A few examples are listed below.
Medical-Legal Partnerships Clinic
Collaborate with healthcare providers to identify and address legal issues that negatively contribute to the health of low-income patient-clients.
Immigration Law Practice Group
Represent immigrants seeking to improve their legal status in the United States.
Special Education Clinic
Help the families of elementary and secondary students who have been identified as qualifying for services become advocates within the special education system.
With 35+ student organizations, our students put their commitment to professional development, service, leadership and social justice to work. Some of our public interest-related clubs include:
Mentor Externship Program
Each law student is matched with a mentor, who complements their interests and professional goals—such as a public defender or a legal aid attorney. Our mentors allow students to engage in legal work, professional networking and meaningful reflection.
Lawyer Search is St. Thomas Law’s online directory of alumni. It is available to those with legal needs, for attorney networking and referrals and so current and prospective law students can meet attorneys working in their area of interest. Click below to connect with one of our alums!