Clinic students gain practical appellate-level experience by working with judges, lawyers, and clients in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, based in Cincinnati. Overall, the clinic helps students develop skills for identifying issues, doing legal research, and drafting and preparing for oral arguments.
Students must have completed 28 credit hours and have completed, or be enrolled in, the Professional Responsibility course. Upper-level students with excellent research and writing skills will receive priority for clinic spots.
The clinic teaches students the basics of appellate advocacy by providing an opportunity to brief actual appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit or other appellate courts. Some students may be able to argue those appeals before the Sixth Circuit. Classes are conducted in the evening at a law firm in downtown Cincinnati. Students from the University of Cincinnati College of Law also enroll in the clinic.
The clinic is taught by experienced appellate lawyers who provide a unique perspective on appellate practice and the experience of working for clients. Faculty members include:
Colter Paulson, clinic director, whose practice represents clients in litigation involving consumer financial services, medical devices, health care, and manufacturing. As clinic director, he leads a team of attorneys and students to represent indigent prisoners in appeals.
Lauren Kuley, associate clinic director, is an experienced appellate practitioner, and leads a motions practice in complex litigation.
Nathan Colvin, associate clinic director, is an associate in a large Cincinnati law firm and a member of its litigation group. His practice is focused on complex civil litigation, including appellate, commercial, class action, and fiduciary litigation.
Scott Coyle, supervising attorney, focuses on government investigations, white-collar criminal defense, and appellate litigation. He supervises students in the clinic.
Submit a resume, transcript, and one-page letter-of-interest to Professor Amy Halbrook, associate dean for experiential learning, by email to halbrooka1@nku.edu.
Participation in the clinic does not require a limited license to practice law, but one is required to appear in court with supervision of a lawyer. Students wishing to apply need to complete an Ohio Legal Intern License Application.