Legal Clinics
Serving the Community for over 75 Years.
About the Program
Beginning in 1948, the Clinical Program at SMU Dedman School of Law was among the country’s first to sponsor a community legal clinic. Today, it remains a national model of excellence. Dedman Law’s clinical program has evolved to reflect changing perspectives in legal education and innovation in legal practice. All the while, Dedman Law remains committed to the ideals that have shaped it from the beginning: public service, professional responsibility, and outstanding skills training.
The program encompasses 10 specialized clinics and projects where, under the supervision of clinic directors, our students serve as advocates on behalf of the community in many areas of the law. Dedman Law’s clinical education program is central to our mission of providing outstanding legal education and public service, along with developing professional responsibility.
about the Clinic Program at SMU Law.
2026 Legal Clinic Registration
Note: Students who have completed all first-year courses are now eligible to participate in Clinics.
Legal Clinics Registration Information Packet - Fall 2026
Resources for the Public
Thank you for inquiring about legal representation at the SMU Dedman School of Law Legal Clinics. The Clinics provides legal services to individuals who cannot otherwise afford to retain private counsel. Each Clinic has its own application procedures and application. Please click on the name of each clinic to learn more.
Area Agencies
Other area agencies that may provide legal assistance.
Associate Dean
Mary Spector
Associate Dean for Experiential Learning, Director of the Civil/Consumer Clinic, and Professor of Law
Clinic Staff
Lisa Montes
Legal Clinics Coordinator and Legal Assistant
Cristela Barillas
Legal Assistant
Gloria Carranza
Legal Assistant
Iris Aley
Legal Clinics Assistant
Directors
Chanté Brantley
Director of the VanSickle Family Law Clinic and Clinical Professor of Law
Thomas S. Leatherbury
Director of the First Amendment Clinic and Clinical Professor of Law
Pam R. Metzger
Executive Director of the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center and Professor of Law
Natalie Nanasi
Director of the Judge Elmo B. Hunter Legal Center for Victims of Crimes Against Women and Professor of Law
Debora Garcia Sanchez
Acting Director, Criminal Clinic and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law
Eliot Shavin
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law and Assistant Director, Civil/Consumer Clinic
Assistant Director of the First Amendment Clinic, Faculty Law Fellow, and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law
Kandace D. Walter
Director, Small Business and Trademark Clinic and Associate Clinical Professor of Law
Adjunct Clinical Professors of Law
Demetrice Lopez
Faculty Law Fellow of the Hunter Legal Center for Victims of Crimes Against Women and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law
Gregory Mitchell
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law, Federal Tax Clinic
Mike McCollum
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law, Criminal Clinic
Terrica Odum
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law, VanSickle Family Law Clinic
Osman Siddiq
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law, Patent Clinic
Christopher Young
Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law, Innocence Clinic
Staff Attorneys
Staff Attorney
Eryn Lyle
Law Fellow and Staff Attorney
Mailing Address
SMU Dedman School of Law
P.O. Box 750116
Dallas, TX 75275-0116
Physical Address
SMU Dedman School of Law
Storey Hall
3315 Daniel Avenue, Suite 30
Dallas, TX 75205
Legal Clinics
Phone: 214.768.2562
Email: legalclinics@smu.edu