Food Law and Policy Clinic

The Food Law and Policy Clinic will allow students to take on the role of policy advocate within the food justice movement, which calls for positive, systemic change in the areas of food insecurity, public health, workers’ rights, urban agriculture, land use, animal welfare, and social entrepreneurship. Students will focus on several policy advocacy strategies, including: (1) working with local stakeholders in the food system to identify, develop, and implement new and impactful policy initiatives; (2) providing guidance and education to food innovators regarding laws and policies related to food access and food waste and recovery; and (3) using social change campaigns and legal needs assessments to promote food equity for underserved individuals and communities.Students will deepen their practical understanding of the role of policy advocate through both seminar activities and live project work, where they will develop and practice a wide range of transferable skills and strategies. These skills and strategies include: interviewing clients and experts; conducting legal and social science research and analysis; consulting and counseling stakeholders; creating and maintaining partnerships with individuals and community groups; organizing community education and media campaigns; participating in legislative drafting, administrative rulemaking, and organizational toolkit development; presenting oral advocacy; and, creating and implementing a framework for evaluation and assessment.This graded, four-unit course is limited to a maximum of eight students. Enrollment is by application. In addition to the weekly two hour seminar and associated four hours of out-of-class student preparation per week, a substantial out-of-class commitment of 8-10 hours of fieldwork per week is required.