Gun Violence Prevention Clinic

The Gun Violence Prevention Clinic is the first and only in-house law school clinic in the nation dedicated to reducing gun violence through litigation. The Clinic litigates affirmative cases against wrongdoers in the gun industry to reduce injuries, deaths, and trauma caused by gun violence, and defends Minnesota gun regulations against constitutional challenges in court. The Clinic works in partnership with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, and students serve as Special Assistant Attorneys General.

The Clinic offers students a unique experiential learning opportunity to work on high-stakes litigation addressing a significant societal problem. Students help select cases, shape litigation strategy, draft briefs, argue in court, negotiate with opposing counsel, and conduct legal research on cutting-edge Second Amendment issues. Students also advise local governments, the state legislature, and other policymakers on firearms regulation. Through this work, students gain hands-on expertise in constitutional law, civil litigation, and firearms policy while contributing to cases with real-world impact.

Clinic casework is accompanied by a weekly seminar in which students examine developing Second Amendment jurisprudence, discuss the intersection of gun policy and fundamental rights, and learn foundational concepts for using litigation to advance social justice goals. Students also engage with guest speakers who are experts in Second Amendment law and gun violence prevention.