Access Restricted to Northwestern Law CommunityProgram on Civil Litigation
John
Elson has been professor of law and assistant director of the Legal
Clinic since 1976. He has an AB from Harvard and JD and MA degrees from
the University of Chicago.
John has developed litigation projects with his students in the areas of students' and prisoners' rights, the protection of clients from abusive divorce attorneys, and the representation of victims of domestic violence. These projects have included advocacy at the trial and appellate levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as in the Illinois legislature.
This year, John's students have worked with the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago in a variety of consumer law and landlord/tenant cases. Under John's supervision, they perform the roles of lawyers in litigation, including taking depositions, drafting written discovery, preparing and arguing motions, and trying cases. Students also interview clients and make case presentations at the LAFC case acceptance meetings.
