1. Plan your schedule far ahead so as to work in the Clinical with the least conflict with other desired courses. It helps to map out your ideas for a Clinical as you complete your first year at King Hall. Thinking ahead to see what semesters you want to participate in the program can assist your planning efforts.
2. Think about your goals for the Clinical.
3. Examine all the data available to choose a placement of interest to you. Talk with the Clinical Directors and Office Managers, and if possible, talk to any students previously placed in the Clinical of interest to you.
4. If possible, observe in advance the working conditions of the Clinical placement.
5. If possible, arrange for an advance interview with the person who will supervise you at the Clinical placement. Communicate your goals to the supervisor, ask for a statement of the placement's expectations of you, and attempt to arrive at some mutual agreement as to your duties.
6. Certain Clinical placements will not permit students to work until a background check has been completed. This process can take several weeks, an important reason to start your application early.
7. Schedule your Clinical time in at least four-hour blocks.
8. Study the Code of Professional Responsibility (which you must certify to having read under State Bar Rules).
9. Keep a calendar of appointments, deadlines, court appearances, etc. Remember punctuality is far more important in Clinical placement than at law school.
10. Remember that the attorney-client relationship of which you are now a part is a confidential one.
11. Make a good impression from the very beginning. Work doubly hard early; but don't take on anything that you're not sure you can handle.
12. Do not hesitate to ask questions no matter how simple.
13. Use your initiative to get what you want from the Clinical. Don't waste even a day; but recognize your position and use tact in order to get what you want.
14. Do not wait until the semester is almost over or the problem is insurmountable to enlist the advice and aid of your Clinical Director.
15. Maintain an open-minded objective critical learning state of mind throughout.