Since 1990, the School of Law has operated and HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic, the second oldest such clinic in the nation. During its nearly twenty years, hundreds of law students have served thousands of the District of Columbia's most vulnerable residents.

The Clinic provides comprehensive, holistic legal services to families affected by HIV/AIDS by addressing several legal issues at once. Under the supervision of experienced clinical faculty, students assist families in accessing public benefits and in drafting and executing last wills and testaments, powers of attorney and advanced directives. The HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic also represents caregivers facing a wide variety of permanency issues, such as the need to plan for the future care of their children by transferring legal custody to another member of the family or to a family friend if and when that caregiver is no longer able to parent the children.

The Clinic is unique to the District of Columbia and exemplifies the kind of community service that students provide throughout their legal training at the School of Law. The Clinic is a partner in the Family Ties Project of the Consortium of Child Welfare and works closely with several medical and social service providers.

All students participate in classroom seminars that introduce them to the nature of the disease and the complexities of advocating for terminally ill people who face prejudice, stigma and discrimination. The Clinic is designed to teach lawyering skills and values, such as client-centeredness, interviewing, counseling, drafting court pleadings and trial advocacy.  Informed by a quest for social justice, students use their developing lawyering skills to become zealous, ethical and compassionate advocates.