Bankruptcy Clinic

Bankruptcy Clinic & Bankruptcy Seminar Goals and Structure

The Bankruptcy Clinic provides a practical skills experience in insolvency issues and proceedings. Each student will interview and counsel clients, as well as engage in all aspects of case assessment. Each student will have the opportunity to represent debtors in bankruptcy proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California.

Each student will handle a variety of actual cases, and will represent clients under the direct supervision of Warren A. Jones, Professor of Law. Case work will be complemented by a required weekly seminar. The Clinic is located in the McGeorge Community Legal Services building at 2925 34th St., Sacramento, CA 95817, on the campus of McGeorge School of Law.

Professors

The Bankruptcy Clinic is taught by Warren A. Jones, Professor of Law and by Linda Coco, Professor of Law.

Professor Jones has extensive practice experience in both the creditor/debtor and bankruptcy fields. He has served as a trustee in bankruptcy, and his bankruptcy practice has included the representation of both debtors and creditors, as well as representation of trustees in bankruptcy. Contact information: wjones@pacific.edu.

Professor Coco completed her PhD in Legal Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2011 and a JD from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2000. Contact information: lcoco@pacific.edu.

Unit Credit and Limit on Enrollment

This is a one-semester clinic, offered in both fall and spring, for three graded units, which includes a 90-minute weekly seminar. Students are required to engage in 120 hours of client representation and counseling.
Enrollment in the Bankruptcy Clinic is limited to six to eight students.
Priority is given to graduating students.

Prerequisites for Enrollment and Fees

Concurrent or prior enrollment in the Bankruptcy course is required. Students must apply for certification under The State Bar of California's Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program. To be eligible for certification, a student must be enrolled in, or have successfully completed Evidence and Civil Procedure. Students must pay to the State Bar the student registration fee and certified law student fee.

Why This Clinic is Valuable

Bankruptcy is a federal proceeding provided for in Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution of the United States of America. Its impact pervades personal & business relationships. It is a field in the practice of law in which there is substantial growth and employment opportunities for graduates.