SECURITIES ARBITRATION CLINIC (ADVOCACY AND LEGAL SKILLS - 5050)
4 credits
The Securities Arbitration Clinic is a one-semester in- house, live-client, clinical program available to second and third year students. The Clinic will assist under-served New York small investors with securities disputes in arbitration before the two primary self-regulatory organizations ("SRO") in the securities industry, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The students will provide representation in, among other things, churning and failure to supervise cases under the Rules and Procedures of unauthorized trading, unsuitability, misrepresentation, and FINRA and relevant state and federal securities laws. Students provide representation from initial client contact through confirming or vacating arbitration awards in court. Students may perform client and witness interviews, conduct full-scale investigations, perform trading and suitability analyses, perform legal research, draft all pleadings including statements of claim, answers, replies, and motions; particpate in discovery; attend pre-hearing conferences, represent clients at arbitration hearings and at court hearings; represent clients at mediations and settlement negotiations and draft settlements. Students will develop essential lawyering skills, substantive legal knowledge and professional responsibility while representing clients. A Clinical Professor supervises students in all aspects of client representation. Clinic students are required to attend a weekly 2-hour seminar component. Additionally, students are required to work in the Clinic 13 hours a week. The Clinic is located at the St. John's Queens campus. Students will be selected based upon an interview with the professor and submission of a resume, cover letter, writing sample and transcript.