As one of the oldest and top-ranked law universities in the nation, the UVA School of Law strives to train lawyers and public servants through hands-on, intensive programs, such as the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic. Established in 2006, the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic allows students to handle aspects of actual cases, from seeking review to briefing on a case’s merits, and provides insight into how the Supreme Court handles cases and statutory interpretation.
Most recently, UVA clinic students were involved in the landmark Elonis v. United States case, which touched on First Amendment freedom of speech rights as they relate to social media. In the case, the Supreme Court reached a 7-2 opinion in favor of Elonis, who was convicted under federal threat statutes for several Facebook posts. Previously, the clinic was involved in garnering a unanimous decision in its favor in Henderson v. United States.