What is AFR?
Students work outside the classroom under the supervision of a full-time faculty member to conduct factual investigations, interviews, and/or legal research aimed at 1) identifying or advancing potential solutions to a legal or public policy problem or 2) examining the relevance of legal doctrine to a legal or public policy problem. The course emphasizes the deployment of doctrinal learning through experiential projects in the same way that many public interest lawyers respond to policy problems through their work.
What types of projects might work for an AFR?
Projects may include the development of policy papers, draft legislation or regulations, comments on proposed rules, or the production of seminars, workshops, and symposia that convene relevant decision-makers and stakeholders.
What are the Requirements to enroll in an AFR?
- Approach a full-time professor and ask if they would be willing to supervise the AFR project.
- Fill out the AFR Proposal Form, making sure to sign where indicated.
- By the deadline, submit the completed AFR Proposal form to the Office of Student Affairs.
- After submission of the form, promptly check your schedule to ensure you are registered for the appropriate number of credits.
- Following completion of the AFR project (typically at the end of a semester), the faculty advisor will enter the appropriate grade.
Experiential Learning and Writing.
Depending on the nature of the project and outcomes, this course may be used to fulfill the Law School’s Experiential Learning requirements and/or Advanced Research and Writing requirements. The faculty advisor will make a preliminary assessment regarding a project’s potential upon review of the AFR Proposal. A final determination will be made upon project completion and must be confirmed by faculty certification that the requirement(s) have been met.
DEADLINE
AFR Proposals must be complete and submitted to the Office of Student Affairs by 4:30 pm no later than (1) week prior to the first day of classes each semester for which credit is being sought.
