Drake Legal Clinic

DRAKE LEGAL CLINIC

PHONE CALLS AND INQUIRIES

If you are not a current client and you call the Drake Legal Clinic, you will be asked to leave a message. We will return your call within 2 business days. If you don’t receive a response within 2 days it is because there was no answer at your number or we could not leave a message. Please call again and we will be happy to answer your inquiry. You may also email us at law-clinic@drake.edu. The building is only accessible for clients with appointments, we do not accept walk in inquiries.

ELDER LAW CLINIC – NO NEW CASES - CLOSED
Wills and Estates, Health Care Power of Attorneys, Landlord Tenant, Do Not Resuscitate Orders- As of June 2020, the Drake Legal Clinic no longer offers representation in the area of Elder Law – please check back in the future for updates on our areas of representation.

Other resources:

HOTLINE FOR OLDER IOWANS - IOWA LEGAL AID – 1-800-992-8161

POLK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT, CAROL PHILLIPS, cphillips@pcbaonline.org

CURRENT CLIENTS

Please contact your student attorney or the Clinic Faculty for your case. Phone numbers and emails are listed below.

BECOMING A NEW CLIENT

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS CLINIC - No Public Intake for Cases – All Cases are Court Appointed

CRIMINAL DEFENSE CLINIC - No Public Intake for Cases – All Cases are Court Appointed.

CIVIL CLINIC - Divorces, Child Custody, Adult Guardianships, Small Claims, Unemployment, Landlord Tenant - POLK COUNTY CASES ONLY. Currently not taking new clients until after the intake day listed below.

NEW CASE INTAKE DAY – January 4, 2023

If your case will be in Polk County, call 515-271-3851 on intake day only. Leave a message on our intake line. We will call intake day applicants to determine which cases the Clinic can accept (not everyone will receive a call back due to the large number of applicants). After intake day, there may be openings for a very limited number of cases.

ENTREPRENEURIAL AND TRANSACTIONAL CLINIC - accepting only a very limited number of new cases at this time. In order to be considered for our services, please contact the Entrepreneurial and Transactional Clinic at etc@drake.edu for additional information or a client application.

REFUGEE CLINIC - will accept new clients throughout the year as resources permit. Consultations for new potential clients will be scheduled periodically. If you wish to inquire about legal representation by the Refugee Clinic, please contact the Refugee Clinic at law-refugee@drake.edu .

WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CLINIC - Requests for assistance should be directed to the Midwest Innocence Project (MIP). Please complete the application for assistance located on the MIP website, www.themip.org.

Legal Clinic Faculty

Suzan Pritchett, Director of Clinical and Experiential Programs; Professor of Law
515-271-3391 suzan.pritchett@drake.edu
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Erica Nichols Cook, Director of the Wrongful Convictions Clinic, Clinician in Residence
515-344-3410 erica.nicholscook@drake.edu

Sally Frank, Professor of Law, Director of the General Civil Clinic
515-271-3909 sally.frank@drake.edu
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Nickole Miller, Director of the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights, Assistant Professor of Law
515-271-1809 nickole.miller@drake.edu

Allison McCarthy, Clinical Teaching Fellow, Refugee Clinic
515-271-1825 allison.mccarthy@drake.edu

Robert Rigg, Professor of Law; Director of the Criminal Defense Program
515-271-3928 robert.rigg@drake.edu
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Nick Roby, Director of the Entrepreneurial/Transactional Clinic; Clinical Professor of Law
515-271-1808 nick.roby@drake.edu

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:

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.

Law School Calendar