The First Amendment Clinic was founded in 2020 thanks to the generous support of the Stanton Foundation. We represent individuals without regard to political ideology and our mission is to protect the free speech rights of all.
The First Amendment Clinic allows law students to learn substantive First Amendment law while developing concrete lawyering skills through federal litigation and advocacy work. Students represent clients in matters involving the First Amendment “expressive” clauses, including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and access to the courts. Students have handled matters involving public protest and dissent, student speech, artistic expression, intimidations of members of the media, and much more.
Students conduct all aspects of federal court litigation, drafting pleadings, discovery and briefs; conducting depositions; arguing motions; negotiating settlements and/or trying cases in state and federal court. Student attorneys have professional responsibility for clients and handle all aspects of cases from the initial client interview through fact investigation and discovery, then to trial. Students also engage in non-litigation advocacy on behalf of clinic clients, providing client representation and advice to members of the public and members of the media in various contexts including providing “know your rights” materials and providing pre-publication review of matters for members of the media.
In its inaugural year, student attorneys handled 18 matters on behalf of Louisianians, among them: