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Real-World Training at Utah Law

Experiential learning – learning through practical experience – is a critical component of every student’s training at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. In experiential courses, including in-house clinics, field placements, and simulations, students get hands-on experience and individualized training that bridges the gap between the classroom and real-world lawyering. All students must complete six credits of experiential coursework before graduating. Many students choose to do more. See below for more information.

In-House Clincs

Many of our students find that a clinic experience is the most valuable, rewarding, and challenging part of law school. Clinic students learn through real-world work, intensive seminars, and regular meetings with faculty supervisors. Every clinic student gains valuable skills, knowledge, and mental habits that help prepare them for a successful practice. They also gain deep insight into the strategic, ethical, and relational dimensions of the legal profession.

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Field Placements

In field placements, students earn academic credit while gaining practical skills and training under licensed attorneys in the field. S.J. Quinney has a wide variety of placements in over a hundred different settings across more than a dozen different areas of law, and new placements are developed every semester.

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Simulations

Simulation courses engage students in dynamic, real-world lawyering tasks based on hypothetical scenarios. From the annual simulation in Global Perspectives on Counterterrorism to closing arguments in Trial Advocacy, from conceptualizing large-scale projects in Real Estate Development to drafting divorce settlement agreements in Family Law Practice Lab, students build concrete skills to be practice ready.

Spring to D.C. Program

The Spring to DC Program is a partnership between the S.J. Quinney College of Law and the Hinckley Institute of Politics that allows you to spend a spring semester living, learning, working, and networking in our nation’s capital. Supported by a large and active network of Utah Law alumni and contacts in the D.C. metro area, this program is the ideal way to get the experience and make the connections you need to launch a career in our nation’s capital and beyond.

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Experiential Education FAQs


Contact Information


Jackie Morrison
Jackie Morrison
Director of Experiential Education, Assistant Professor (Lecturer)
Emily Aplin
Emily Aplin
Experiential Education Program Manager