Therapeutic Jurisprudence in an Interprofessional Practice at the University of St. Thomas Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services

Abstract

The author describes the development, mission and goals, structure and staffing of the Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Center combines graduate clinical training in law, social work and psychology, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary assistance to low-income clients that is both collaborative and independent. The author discusses the importance of interdisciplinary education, particularly for law students, and highlights the use of the analytical structure of therapeutic jurisprudence in the education of students and the representation of clients in the Center.

Keywords: Therapeutic jurisprudence, clinical teaching, interdisciplinary