This clinic introduces third-year students to all aspects of current U.S. Supreme Court practice through live cases.

The clinic is a yearlong commitment.

Students earn eight credits (four credits on a S/U basis awarded in the fall, and four credits based on letter grades in the spring).

Case teams will meet regularly to discuss Supreme Court practice and/or research memos, drafts of briefs, and other papers students have prepared for submission to the court. Class sessions will focus on group case rounds, relevant Supreme Court scholarship, and the ethics of appellate lawyering. Students may be expected to help identify candidates for Supreme Court review; draft petitions for certiorari, briefs in opposition, amicus briefs and/or party merits briefs; and attend/participate in mootings for the En Banc Institute.

PREREQUISITE: Third-year status

APPLICATION: To apply, please send the following to @email by the summer lottery/application deadline:

  • Writing sample (no more than 8 pages)
  • Resume
  • Transcript
  • Cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining your interest in the clinic, describing any academic interests that you might contribute to the classroom discussion, including any courses you hope to take during 3L year, and listing major time commitments for the school year (e.g., journals, student organizations, work study, and personal commitments).

Selected students will have the clinic posted to their schedules before the commencement of the regular course lottery process. Because of the limited seats, students who don’t rank the clinic as their first choice in the general clinic application/lottery process may not be considered. Once students are enrolled, NO drops will be permitted.

To be considered for this clinic, students must both rank the clinic in the clinic lottery and submit application materials within the timeline set by the Student Records Office. Students selected for the clinic through the clinic application/lottery process will be automatically enrolled prior to the regular course lottery.

The positions that the clinic takes on behalf of its clients are independent of the views of the University of Virginia or the School of Law.

Faculty
Xiao Wang
Assistant Professor of Law, General Faculty
Director, Supreme Court Litigation Clinic
Assistant Professor of Public Policy, General Faculty, Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
Remote video URL
Skills Taught
Research, brief-writing, appellate litigation, mooting argument
Grading
S/U (fall); letter grade (spring)
Course Credits
8 (4 fall/4 spring)
Instructors
In the News

Jones v. Hendrix

Cert Granted May 16, 2022

Related News

10.26.22 Clinic To Argue Habeas Case at Supreme Court on Tuesday

5.17.22 Supreme Court Takes Clinic Case on Challenges to Convictions

Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, Inc.

Cert Granted June 24, 2019

Related News

11.26.19 Clinic Returns to Supreme Court To Argue Copyright Case

6.24.19 Supreme Court Takes Clinic Case Testing 19th-Century Copyright Doctrine

Quarles v. United States

Cert Granted Jan. 11, 2019

Related News

4.23.19 Clinic Returns to Supreme Court for Sentencing Enhancement Case

1.11.19 Supreme Court To Hear Clinic Case on Sentencing Enhancement

Culbertson v. Berryhill

Cert Granted May 21, 2018

Related News

1.9.19 Clinic Wins Attorneys’ Fees Case at U.S. Supreme Court

10.29.18 Clinic to Argue Attorneys' Fees Case Before the Supreme Court Next Week

5.21.18 Clinic Brings Attorney’s Fees Case to Supreme Court

City of Hays v. Vogt 

Cert Granted Sept. 28, 2017

Related News

2.22.18 Supreme Court Clinic’s Efforts Culminate as Heytens Argues City of Hays

2.14.18 Clinic Returns to Supreme Court on Tuesday With Case Testing Fifth Amendment’s Limits

9.28.17 Clinic Headed to Supreme Court Again With City of Hays v. Vogt

Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis

Cert Granted Jan. 13, 2017

Related News

5.21.18 Clinic Loses Epic Supreme Court Case in Squeaker Decision

9.26.17 Law Clinic Director Preparing for 'Epic' Labor Law Showdown

1.14.17 Clinic Brings Epic Case to Supreme Court

Henderson v. United States

Cert Granted Oct. 20, 2014

Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Cert Petition | Brief in Opposition | Petitioner's Cert-Stage Reply | Brief for the U.S. | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

5.18.15 UVA Law Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Gains Unanimous Win With Henderson

2.25.15 Inside the Oral Arguments for Henderson: A Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Student Reports

2.20.15 Supreme Court Will Hear UVA Law Clinic Case Involving Felons and Firearms Tuesday

10.21.14 Supreme Court Will Hear UVA Law Clinic Case Involving Gun, Property Rights

Update: UVA Law Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Wins Facebook Threat Case

Anthony D. Elonis v. United States

Cert Granted June 16, 2014

Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Cert Petition | Brief in Opposition | Petitioner's Cert-Stage Reply | Brief for the U.S. | Merits Reply Brief

Related News

6.1.15 UVA Law Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Wins Facebook Threat Case

12.4.14 UVA Law Clinic Argues Elonis v. United States

11.19.14 UVA Law Clinic Brings 'True Threats' Facebook Case to Supreme Court

6.16.14 UVA Law Clinic Headed to Supreme Court Again with Elonis Facebook Threat Case

Rosemond v. United States (2013)

Brief for the U.S. | Reply Brief for Petitioner | Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Cert Petition | Brief in Opposition | Petitioner's Cert-Stage Reply | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

3.7.14 Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Wins SCOTUS Firearms Conviction Case

5.29.13 Supreme Court to Hear Federal Gun Law Case from UVA Law School Clinic

Vance v. Ball State University (2012)

Brief for Respondent | Reply Brief for Petitioner | Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Cert Petition | Brief in Opposition | Petitioner's Cert-Stage Reply | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

6.24.13 Ortiz Reacts to Supreme Court's Decision in Employment Discrimination Case

11.27.12 For Workplace Harassment Lawsuits, Court Asks Who Qualifies as a Supervisor in Case Argued by UVA Law Professor

11.26.12 UVA Law Professor Argues Workplace Harassment Case Before Supreme Court

7.9.12 Supreme Court to Hear Workplace Harassment Case from University of Virginia Law School Clinic

Borough of Duryea v. Guarnieri (2011)

Brief for Respondent | Reply Brief for Petitioner | Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Cert Petition | Cert Reply | Brief in Opposition | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

6.20.11 Supreme Court Rules for Clinic in Borough of Duryea v. Guarnieri

3.23.11 Inside the Supreme Court: Instructors Argue Two Cases on Same Day

1.3.11 Supreme Court to Hear Two Clinic Cases on Same Day

10.18.10 Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Clinic Case

Nevada Commission on Ethics v. Carrigan (2011)

Brief for Respondent | Reply Brief for Petitioner | Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Cert Petition | Brief in Opposition | Petitioner's Cert-Stage Reply | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

6.13.11 Supreme Court Rules for Clinic's Client in First Amendment Case

1.31.11 Supreme Court to Hear Fourth Clinic Case of Term

Fox v. Vice (2011)

Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

6.6.11 Supreme Court Rules in Clinic Case

3.23.11 Inside the Supreme Court: Instructors Argue Two Cases on Same Day

1.3.11 Supreme Court to Hear Two Clinic Cases on Same Day

Kevin Abbott v. United States (2010)

Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Petitioner's Cert-Stage Reply | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

3.8.10 Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Gets Third Win

2.2.10 Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Clinic Case

Bloate v. United States (2010)

Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief Petitioner's Cert-Stage Reply | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

04.21.09 Supreme Court to Hear Law School Clinic Case

Vaden v. Discover Bank (2009)

Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Petitioner's Cert-Stage Reply | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

3.9.09 Supreme Court Earns Second Win with Vaden

Indiana v. Edwards (2008)

Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

3.31.08 U.S. Supreme Court Hears Law School Clinic Case

Watson v. United States (2007)

Petitioner's Opening Merits Brief | Petitioner's Cert-Stage Reply | Supreme Court Opinion

Related News

12.13.07 Supreme Court Clinic Celebrates First Win with Watson

3.26.07 Supreme Court to Hear Law School Clinic Case Watson

Merits Amicus Briefs

In December 2014, the clinic and Professor Douglas Laycock filed an amicus brief on behalf of the American Jewish Committee and other civil rights and civil liberties organizations in the Abercrombie & Fitch employment discrimination case:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc. (2014)

Clinic Amicus Brief | Supreme Court Opinion

The clinic filed an amicus brief in a case the Supreme Court ruled on (affirming the clinic’s side) in 2012:

Taniguchi v. Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd. (2011)

Clinic Amicus Brief | Supreme Court Opinion

Clinic Stories (By Date):

5.23.23 Xiao Wang Joins Faculty To Lead Supreme Court Litigation Clinic

4.11.23 A Friend of the Court

10.26.22 Clinic To Argue Habeas Case at Supreme Court on Tuesday

5.17.22 Supreme Court Takes Clinic Case on Challenges to Convictions

11.26.19 Clinic Returns to Supreme Court To Argue Copyright Case

7.2.19 How UVA Law Fared at the Supreme Court This Term

6.24.19 Supreme Court Takes Clinic Case Testing 19th-Century Copyright Doctrine

4.23.19 Clinic Returns to Supreme Court for Sentencing Enhancement Case

1.11.19 Supreme Court To Hear Clinic Case on Sentencing Enhancement

1.9.19 Clinic Wins Attorneys’ Fees Case at U.S. Supreme Court

10.29.18 Clinic to Argue Attorneys' Fees Case Before the Supreme Court Next Week

5.21.18 Clinic Loses Epic Supreme Court Case in 5-4 Decision

5.21.18 Clinic Brings Attorney’s Fees Case to Supreme Court

2.22.18 Supreme Court Clinic’s Efforts Culminate as Heytens Argues City of Hays

2.14.18 Clinic Returns to Supreme Court on Tuesday With Case Testing Fifth Amendment’s Limits

9.28.17 Clinic Headed to Supreme Court Again With City of Hays v. Vogt

9.26.2017 Law Clinic Director Preparing for 'Epic' Labor Law Showdow

1.14.17 Clinic Brings Epic Case to Supreme Court

10.4.16 Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Celebrates a Decade of Wins and Influence

9.2.15 U.Va.'s Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Wins Big

6.1.15 UVA Law Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Wins Facebook Threat Case

5.18.15 UVA Law Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Gains Unanimous Win With Henderson

2.25.15 Inside the Oral Arguments for Henderson: A Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Student Reports

2.20.15 Supreme Court Will Hear UVA Law Clinic Case Involving Felons and Firearms Tuesday

12.2.14 UVA Law Clinic Argues Elonis v. United States

11.19.14 UVA Law Clinic Brings 'True Threats' Facebook Case to Supreme Court

10.21.14 Supreme Court Will Hear UVA Law Clinic Case Involving Gun, Property Rights

6.16.14 UVA Law Clinic Headed to Supreme Court Again with Elonis Facebook Threat Case

3.7.14 Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Wins SCOTUS Firearms Conviction Case

6.24.13 Ortiz Reacts to Supreme Court's Decision in Employment Discrimination Case

5.29.13 Supreme Court to Hear Federal Gun Law Case from UVA Law School Clinic

11.27.12 For Workplace Harassment Lawsuits, Court Asks Who Qualifies as a Supervisor in Case Argued by UVA Law Professor

11.26.12 UVA Law Professor Argues Workplace Harassment Case Before Supreme Court

7.9.12 Supreme Court to Hear Workplace Harassment Case from University of Virginia Law School Clinic

6.20.11 Supreme Court Rules for Clinic in Borough of Duryea v. Guarnieri

6.13.11 Supreme Court Rules for Clinic's Client in First Amendment Case

6.6.11 Supreme Court Rules in Clinic Case

3.23.11 Inside the Supreme Court: Instructors Argue Two Cases on Same Day

1.31.11 Supreme Court to Hear Fourth Clinic Case of Term

1.3.11 Supreme Court to Hear Two Clinic Cases on Same Day

10.18.10 Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Clinic Case

3.8.10 Supreme Court Litigation Clinic Gets Third Win

2.2.10 Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Clinic Case

4.21.09 Supreme Court to Hear Law School Clinic Case

3.31.08 U.S. Supreme Court Hears Law School Clinic Case

3.9.09 Supreme Court Earns Second Win with Vaden

12.13.07 Supreme Court Clinic Celebrates First Win with Watson

3.26.07 Supreme Court to Hear Law School Clinic Case Watson