Poverty Law: Public and Subsidized Housing, Due Process in Government Benefits Programs, 
Domestic Violence, and Homelessness (Formerly Poverty Law II)
University of Minnesota School of Law

Spring 2025

Adjunct Professors:
		
Lawrence McDonough (he/him/his)
Senior Fellow, National Housing Law Project 
Policy Attorney, HOME Line
651-398-8053 (cell phone)
	Brianna Boone (she/her/hers)
Assistant Director of Litigation and Advocacy
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services      
651-894-6942

Course Structure and Focus:

This is a practice-based class and does not primarily focus on theory. 

This course reviews constitutional, federal, state, and municipal law as they specifically affect low income persons. The housing component focuses on public and subsidized housing programs, manufactured home parks, housing for seniors and people with special needs, and shelters. The government benefits component focuses on post-entitlement, due process and special issues for certain populations. Other topics include working with domestic violence survivors, unhoused individuals, and people with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

All of these issues are common issues addressed by legal aid and pro bono attorneys. The course does not have an exam, but will have a couple of paper assignments.

The course is one of two Poverty Law courses that cover complementary aspects of the subject. They may be taken independently or in any order. Taking either or both courses will prepare the student for providing pro bono work while in private practice, working at a legal aid office, or serving in public law.

This class satisfies the Experiential Learning requirement for students under the Clinic/Simulation category.

A passing grade in this course satisfies the Experiential Learning Requirement under Law School Academic Rule 5.5, which requires work that is primarily experiential in nature; integrates doctrine, theory, skills, and legal ethics; and engages students in performance of at least two professional skills.

Website:

Visit the class website at  for materials and updates. The website serves poverty law courses at the UOM Law School.

Office Hours:

Professors are available before or after class period and also available by appointment, and available by email.

Course Time:

Thursdays, 9:05 a.m. -12:05 p.m. in Mondale Hall 3

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites for Poverty Law.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will learn selected topics in Poverty Law and learn how to advise low-income persons facing various legal issues. Completion of Poverty Law will assist students in clinical work, as well as work in legal aid offices and pro bono work.

Here is the list of faculty-approved  that apply to this course. Students completing this course will be able to:

1. Identify, research, and analyze legal issues, including the ability to:

	i. Locate, interpret, and synthesize relevant legal authorities
	ii. Gather and assess relevant facts
	iii. Identify, and provide critical analysis of, competing positions and options
	iv. Understand the interaction between law and public policy
	v. Recognize when consultation, collaboration, or referral is advisable or required

2. Communicate orally and in writing, including the ability to:
	i. Present analysis and engage in legal dialogue, negotiation, and argument
	ii. Communicate with the appropriate tone and sophistication for the relevant audience
	iii. Communicate directly, with organization, focus, purpose, and clarity
iv. Tailor communication and advocacy to applicable format restrictions and comply with procedural requirements

3. Provide client-oriented legal service, including the ability to:

	i. Demonstrate broad knowledge of the law and the legal system of the United States
	ii. Listen to and engage with clients to identify client objectives and interests
	iii. Advocate for clients
	iv. Counsel clients by assessing, developing, and evaluating creative options to meet client goals

4. Collaborate, including the ability to:

i. Work in a team
ii. Respect diverse views and perspectives and work effectively across difference
iii. Understand issues relating to equity and inclusion

5. Conduct themselves professionally and ethically, including the ability to:

i. Know and comply with rules of professional conduct
ii. Be honest and candid with clients, lawyers, institutions, and others
iii. Respond effectively to criticism and other feedback
iv. Identify and minimize biases
v. Understand the importance of pro bono and other forms of law-related public service
vi. Seek and use resources where necessary to address personal challenges

Course Grade:

Students will complete two papers with a maximum page limit of ten pages. See Class schedule for subjects and time deadlines. The first paper will count for 50% of your grade, and the final paper will count for 50% of your grade. Final grades may be increased or reduced 1 point based upon class attendance and participation. Students must work independently on assignments and may not consult with others.

Poverty Law is a 3-credit course.

Incomplete Grades:

If a student is unable to complete the course requirements, please make arrangements with the instructors prior to the final day of class. The “incomplete policy” of the University of Minnesota School of Law will be followed.

Graded Assignments - Papers:

Two open-book issue-spotting problems will be assigned during the semester. Each student will turn in a maximum of ten pages double-spaced paper with one-inch margins, and 12-point Times New Roman font, answering the problem. Please use only materials assigned in class and in the handouts.  

Late Assignments:

We have a strict policy on late papers to mirror the reality of the practice of law. If you turn in a paper late without discussing it with the Dean of Students in advance, the professor can either reduce the grade or not give a grade at all.

Late Registrations:

If you are not on the class list, you must see the Registrar for admission to the class.

Attendance and Class Participation:

Attendance is required at every class. Attendance sign in sheets will be provided at every class. Students will be expected to abide by the Academic Rules. Rule 1.1 indicates that regular attendance and adequate preparation are required. Law School policy also prohibits unauthorized use of laptop computers during class, including, but not limited to, playing games, reading or writing e-mal, and internet surfing. If a student misses a number of classes, the professors reserve the right to reduce the student’s grade.

This course is scheduled as an in-person course. If situational factors arise, such as personal illness of the instructor, the class may be held synchronously via Zoom or recorded for later viewing.

While makeup work for , faculty and instructors choose how to accommodate absences based on their course. In this course, excused absences will be handled as follows:

 	Students are expected to obtain notes from a classmate of class material missed.
 	With advance notice, we intend to record the class session and make it available only to those who have a legitimate absence.

Textbooks and Class Materials:

Class materials are available on line at . Slides from classroom lectures will be posted at the above link.  
	
Reading assignments are in the class schedule, available on line at . 

Handouts:

Handouts will be provided in some of the classes. If you are not going to be in class, please arrange with another student to get handouts for you. Because the instructors do not have office space on campus, it is difficult for instructors to carry handouts each week for multiple classes.

Class Recordings:

We will record class sessions by request in the event of a student's absence. Please e-mail the professors prior to class to report your absence and request that the session be recorded. Any recordings will be shared with the entire class. 

All recordings provided to students are governed by the Law School's class recording policy, which requires that they may be used only for the academic benefit of enrolled students and may not be redistributed. The policy is available on the Academic Policies website, under Classroom Environment and Use of Electronic Devices.

Cell Phones and Pagers

Please put cell phones and pagers on vibration or silent mode. Please do not answer phones or pagers during class. If you need to make other arrangements, talk with the professors.

Honor Code:

Students enrolled in the course are expected to at all times comply with the Law School’s Honor Code and Academic Rules, as well as the University’s Code of Student Conduct.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools:

Artificial intelligence (AI) language models, such as ChatGPT, and online assignment help tools, such as Chegg®, may not be used for course assignments except as explicitly authorized by the instructors. The following actions are prohibited in this course:

 	Submitting all or any part of an assignment statement to an online learning support platform;
 	Incorporating any part of an AI generated response in an assignment;
 	Using AI to brainstorm, formulate arguments, or template ideas for assignments;
 	Using AI to summarize or contextualize source materials;
 	Submitting your own work for this class to an online learning support platform for iteration or improvement.

If you are in doubt as to whether you are using an online learning support platform appropriately in this course, we encourage you to discuss your situation with us. 

Any assignment content composed by any resource other than you, regardless of whether that resource is human or digital, must be attributed to the source through proper citation. (Examples of citing content composed by digital tools are presented in: ).

Unattributed use of online learning support platforms and unauthorized sharing of instructional property are forms of scholastic dishonesty and will be treated as such.

Resources for Students:

Accommodation Support:

For degree-seeking law students in need of academic accommodations related to a disabling condition, please connect directly with the Law School's designated Access Consultant from the University's Disability Resource Center. 

Classroom and/or testing accommodations may be available. For questions about accommodation implementation at the Law School, connect directly with our Student Affairs team at . Any accommodations for testing on blind-graded exercises should be directed to Student Affairs and not to your instructor so that we can maintain blind grading and protect your privacy.

Immigration Concerns (including DACA status):

The University's Immigration Response Team can provide support, answer questions, and connect students with both campus and community resources.  

If you are an undocumented student and need support, email  to contact the director. More information can be found on the Immigration Response Team Services website.

Personal or Health-Related Challenges:

The University of Minnesota Law School is committed to promoting emotional and psychological wellness for all students.

Many resources are available to students facing personal or health challenges that may impact their academic success. Consult with the Office of Student Affairs at  for specific information and referrals for your situation, or connect directly with these supports:

 	

 	

Student Affairs has advisors available to discuss resources every day of the week, both in-person and virtually, at .