Bench & Bar November/December 2025

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Experiential learning is vital to Brandeis Law students’ education. Real-world, practical learning prepares our students for professional practice. At the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law, we are guided by our namesake Justice Louis D. Brandeis’s mission to address public problems, resolve conflicts and seek justice. Our students carry on his legacy through numerous externships tailored to match a student’s individual professional interests and through five legal clinics that assist those in Louisville who need legal counsel but cannot obtain it without assistance.

ACKERSON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CLINIC* The Ackerson Law Clinic is Brandeis Law’s longest running clinic, where students represent survivors of intimate partner violence, family violence, stalking and sexual assault under the direct supervision of a law professor. Students gain and apply practical lawyering skills both in and out of the courtroom, including client consultation, evidence gathering, hearing preparation and representation in court proceedings. Clients are referred by Legal Aid, Jefferson County Courts, LMPD, the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the Center for Women and Families, and other community partners. MEDIATION CLINIC* Mediation Clinic students complete a required 40 hour state-certified training program before they co-mediate cases weekly under the supervision of a law professor. The cases largely concern family law disputes and are referred directly by Jefferson County Family Court judges. The litigants are low-income and pro se. Students apply and refine practical dispute resolution skills, including effective communication, active listening, writing, de-escalation and issue-spotting. EVICTION DEFENSE CLINIC* Supervised student attorneys represent low-income and pro se clients defending against forcible detainer actions. The primary services provided through Brandeis School of Law’s Eviction Defense Clinic include representation when an eviction has been filed, counseling and advising tenants with landlord issues that could lead to eviction, representation at pretrial conferences and eviction trials or hearings, interviewing clients, engaging with clients to explore alternative solutions and providing real-world legal training for law students.

IMMIGRATION CLINIC* Law students gain hands-on experience

representing clients in all aspects of their cases, from initial consultation and application preparation to final interviews. Working with foreign nationals eligible for citizenship, lawful permanent residence, and work permits before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, students learn the skills of client advocacy. They also assist individuals in Immigration Court who do not have attorneys, helping them understand and complete required forms. In addition, the Clinic partners with local civic organizations to highlight the positive impact of immigration on the community. ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLINIC Law students represent university students enrolled in various academic programs through the University of Louisville, including the Entrepreneurship MBA program at the UofL College of Business, who have legal needs but are unable to engage paid legal counsel. With supervision, Brandeis Law students learn to draft and edit a diverse array of contracts, including documents necessary for student developed startups. Students gain practical, transactional law skills in the field of business law. SUPPORT BRANDEIS LAW STUDENTS AND THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY Jennifer Tuvlin Senior Director of Philanthropy and Engagement Jennifer.tuvlin@louisville.edu | 502.852.7189 For more information, contact:

* To be eligible, a client’s income must be no more than 2.5 times the federal poverty level.

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