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The goal of this Practicum is to provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of public interest law practice, broadly defined. Students participate in a weekly seminar where readings related to public interest law practice are discussed. Topics may include ethical issues faced by public interest lawyers, theories and models of public interest law practice, addressing the legal needs of the poor with limited resources, and the role of pro bono work in public interest law. In addition, students spend 12 hours per week in a field placement or externship with a non-profit public interest organization. Students may work with the professor to arrange field placements and identify supervisors in their area of interest before the course begins. Organizations participating in the Public Interest Practicum have included the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, the ACLU, Lambda Legal, AIDS Legal Counsel, Cabrini-Green Legal Aids Clinic, and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Students maintain a reflective journal on an ongoing basis about their field placement experience, the readings, class discussion, and responses to assigned questions relating to the week's topic. The journal is read and graded in two installments, and each installment accounts for one-sixth of the course grade. Class participation also counts for one-third of the course grade. A reflective paper addressing some aspect of the field placement experience is also required, and it counts for one-third of the course grade. Eligibility and Application Procedures: All second and third year students are eligible to participate in the Public Interest Practicum. Enrollment takes place through the Law Bidding process for course selection. Students in the course should begin searching for an appropriate placement at least one month before the semester begins and are expected to have secured a specific externship by the start of class. The professor teaching the course will assist students in finding externships responsive to the student's interests. Each placement must be approved by the professor teaching the course in the semester for which the placement is secured.