Federal civil rights clinic

Andrew Bequette
Adjunct Professor
Director

The Federal Civil Rights Clinic (FCRC) is designed to:  (1) to address an identified public service need, namely high quality representation of indigent federal litigants; and, (2) to provide students with a unique opportunity to learn and practice federal trial skills under the supervision of an experienced trial attorney.  The cases selected for representation involve significant issues of civil rights or constitutional law and address matters affecting a significant number of prison inmates, systemic questions, and issues of law that are in conflict among the circuits.

Local federal judges sitting in the Central District of Illinois screen claims brought by indigent inmates and narrow the issues and the parties to be consistent with a civil cause of action.  The judge then determines whether the case has sufficient merit so that, if proven, the matter is one in which relief might be granted.

As appropriate, claims are then referred to the FCRC.  In the FCRC, clinic students perform all tasks associated with developing a federal civil case.  FCRC students normally prepare and try a federal civil jury case during the spring semester.