The University of Nebraska College of Law recently opened its new Marvin and Virginia Schmid Clinic Building at McCollum Hall.
The 16,000-square-foot facility provides easy access for clients seeking legal assistance and stresses the importance of skills training and experiential learning at Nebraska Law.
Costing more than $5 million, the building was funded with private donations to the University of Nebraska Foundation. The space opened earlier this year and is used by all of Nebraska Law’s legal clinics — the Civil Clinic, Criminal Clinic, Immigration Clinic and Weibling Entrepreneurship Clinic.
The new building adds to Nebraska Law’s long-standing dedication to providing a complete legal education, said Kevin Ruser, professor of law and director of the college’s clinical programs.
“Our clinical programs provide students with those opportunities, by giving them hands-on experience in real cases involving real clients,” Ruser said. “This new facility enhances their learning experience by placing them in a highly professional setting in which they can collaborate with each other and clinical faculty, enhancing their ability to prepare themselves to represent clients at a high level of competence at the beginning of their legal careers.”
Designed by The Clark Enersen Partners, the new space features a reception area, private interview rooms to consult with clients, conference rooms and a mock courtroom. A classroom and faculty offices allow the four clinic directors to coordinate teaching. Desk space in a large open area accommodates up to 40 students, so they can trade ideas and consult on strategy without waiving attorney-client privilege.