Civil Justice Clinic
The Civil Justice Clinic represents a unique partnership between Duke Law and Legal Aid of North Carolina in which students work on cases relating to housing and North Carolina Healthcare Registry challenges.
Working under the supervision of clinic faculty and staff attorneys of Legal Aid of North Carolina, students directly represent clients in matters that include actions arising from unsafe housing, landlord-tenant disputes, evictions, foreclosures, rent-to-purchase agreements, breach of contract, consumer protection issues, and the North Carolina Health Care Personnel Registry. They develop practical litigation skills that are transferable to a wide range of cases and practice areas, while addressing the critical lack of legal representation among low-income North Carolinians; appear as primary counsel before state superior, district, and small-claims courts, as well as administrative agencies; and work on small teams with attorneys and peers on other cases. During a weekly seminar at the Law School, students learn techniques, strategies, and substantive law relevant to their caseloads.
When John McDaniel JD ’25 heads to a full-time job at a New York law firm after graduation, he'll bring with him experience that few new associates can boast: He’s already won an administrative court hearing and argued an appeal brought by the state of North Carolina.
McDaniel confesses to feeling “terrified” during his first court appearance to argue for his client, a health care worker accused of patient neglect. By the time he argued the state’s appeal, he had developed into a polished advocate.
“John did a phenomenal job arguing against a very experienced assistant attorney general,” said clinic director, Jesse McCoy. “The judge even remarked in chambers about how great his argument was, and how he was better than most lawyers that come before him in superior court. Those experiences really show me the value of our clinic.”
Clinic Connect: Civil Justice Clinic
Molly Pines JD '26 and Nina Jeffries JD '26 sit down to discuss their experiences in Duke Law’s Civil Justice Clinic.
They reflect on the real-world impact of their cases and how the clinic helped shape their goals as future civil rights and public interest attorneys.
Clinic Faculty
Chelsea Cook
Assistant Clinical Professor of Law
Supervising Attorney, Civil Justice Clinic919-613-7086
