Drake Legal Clinic

DRAKE LEGAL CLINIC
Information on Becoming a Client

Visiting the Legal Clinic

Our Office hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. We are closed between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. daily.
The Legal Clinic is closed to the general public. All visitors must have an appointment in advance. The Legal Clinic does not accept walk up inquiries.
Parking at the Legal Clinic requires a parking pass. Current clients and visitors may obtain a parking pass at the reception desk to be placed on the dashboard of their vehicle.

Phone Calls & Inquiries

Please call 515-271-3851 and follow the prompts for the clinic you wish to speak with. You may also email us at law-clinic@drake.edu.
Please note the Legal Clinic cannot answer legal questions or provide legal advice if you are not a current client. Due to our call volume, we are unable to return every call we receive.

Current Clients

Please contact your student attorney or the Clinic faculty for your case. If you are unsure of who you have been assigned to please call the main line number and leave a message.

Legal Clinics

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS CLINIC
The Children's Rights Clinic only accepts new clients by court appointment or direct referral from a partner agency.

CRIMINAL DEFENSE CLINIC
The Criminal Defense clinic only accepts clients by court appointment. If you have been charged in a criminal matter in Polk County, the Legal Clinic must be appointed by a Judge before we can take your case. 

CIVIL CLINIC
The General Civil Clinic is currently not taking new cases.  New cases are selected by holding an intake day twice a year. Types of civil law our students can practice includes divorces, child custody, adult guardianship, small claims, unemployment, and landlord/tenant not involving eviction only in Polk County. The next intake date is Thursday, August 7, 2025 for the fall semester. Intake is only done one day, and by phone. There is no wait list. Call on August 7, 2025 between 8:30am and 4:00pm.

MACOMBER ENTREPRENEURIAL AND TRANSACTIONAL CLINIC 
To learn more about or be considered for our services please click here.

REFUGEE CLINIC
To learn more about or be considered for our services please click here.

WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CLINIC 
To request assistance, please reach out to the director Erica Nichols Cook at exonerate@spd.state.ia.us to receive an application. You may also request an application by writing to the following address: Wrongful Conviction Unit, Attn: Intake, 6200 Park Ave, Suite 100, Des Moines,
IA 50321.

Other Resources

If the Legal Clinic is unable to help you please visit the list of resources on the Iowa State Bar Association website.

Contact Us

Neal and Bea Smith Law Center
2400 University Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50311
P 515-271-3851
F 515-271-4100
law-clinic@drake.edu

Drake's Legal Clinic allows students to apply their classroom knowledge to the representation of real clients in a first-class clinical setting.

Through the Drake Legal Clinic, students have the chance to gain practical experience by working with actual clients. The clinic also serves the community by helping those who might not otherwise have access to legal assistance.

Learn more about our clinical programs:

• Children's Rights Clinic

• Criminal Defense Clinic

• Macomber Entrepreneurial/Transactional Clinic

• General Civil Practice Clinic

• Refugee Legal Clinic

• Wrongful Convictions Clinic

Iowa Student Practice License

Students who have completed the equivalent of three semesters of law school may apply for an Iowa Student Practice License.

Once admitted under the rule, participants in clinical programs are permitted to appear—under faculty supervision—as counsel on civil and misdemeanor criminal matters and to represent clients before the Iowa Court of Appeals or the Iowa Supreme Court.

If you are a student who is eligible for a student practice license and want to apply for a clinic click here.

Facilities

The 40,000-square-foot Neal and Bea Smith Law Center houses the Law School’s clinical programs and includes classrooms, conference rooms, offices, a library, courtroom, and atrium.

The legal clinic courtroom with state-of-the-art technology is used for a variety of educational purposes and is also available for Iowa district court hearings, which are typically open for student observation.

Drake's legal clinic is supported by a $4.5 million federally funded endowment that ensures continued service to students and the community.

To view a virtual tour of the legal clinic click here.