The Ludwig Center for Community & Economic Development (CED) provides transactional legal services to clients seeking to promote economic opportunity and mobility. CED’s clients include affordable housing developers, community development financial institutions, farms and farmer’s markets, fair housing advocates, and neighborhood associations. CED’s legal services help our clients to expand access to financial services, bring arts institutions and grocery stores to chronically under-resourced communities, break down barriers to affordable housing development in high-opportunity communities, promote access to healthy foods, and facilitate entrepreneurship among low-income people.

CED is a semester-long, in-house clinic offered in both fall and spring semesters, with a substantial number of continuing students who have completed the seminar but remain enrolled in the clinic to handle ongoing or new cases. On behalf of our clients, our students negotiate and draft contracts; provide advice on the tax consequences of entity choices and deal structures; structure and carry out real estate deals; represent borrowers and lenders in financing transactions; draft and advocate for legislation; form for-profit and not-for-profit entities; and resolve land use and environmental issues. The Clinic is open to students from the Schools of Law, Management, Divinity, Forestry and Environmental Studies, Public Health, and Architecture. In addition to representing clients, students in their first semester of the clinic take a seminar which covers federal, state and local policies affecting urban and suburban places; substantive law in tax, real estate development, and corporate governance; and transactional and regulatory lawyering skills, such as negotiating and drafting contracts.
 

Clinical Faculty:

Anika Singh Lemar
Chuck Muckenfuss
Adam Cowing

 

Clients

All Our Kin

The clinic provides training and support to family child care providers, All Our Kin improves the early education received by children throughout New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, and Norwalk.

Branford Interfaith Housing Coalition

BRIC is a membership organization whose mission is to develop affordable housing in Branford, a shoreline suburb just a few miles east of New Haven.

Canal Dock Boathouse, Inc.

The clinic represents Canal Dock Boathouse, Inc., a start-up not-for-profit organization. Community members who usually lack access to water sports and activities will have access to the resources, services and programming that CDBI hopes to offer.

CitySeed

CitySeed engages the community in growing an equitable local food system that promotes economic development, community development, and sustainable agriculture.

Greater Dwight Development Corporation

The Greater Dwight Development Corporation (“GDDC”) is a tax-exempt community development corporation that promotes the economic and social well-being of low-income and other residents in the greater Dwight neighborhood.

Open Communities Alliance

Open Communities Alliance is a Connecticut-based civil rights organization that promotes access to opportunity for all people through education, organizing, advocacy, research, and partnerships.

St. Luke’s Development Corporation

A not-for-profit corporation seeking to provide neighborhood retail amenities, high-quality affordable housing and affordable office space in New Haven neighborhoods.

Soul Fire Farm Institute, Inc.

Soul Fire Farm Institute, Inc. (“SFFI”) is a nonprofit corporation that seeks to advance economic independence and racial equity.

New Haven Bank

The clinic works with New Haven Bank to develop innovative financial products intended to promote access to banking services by low-income consumers.

Westville Village Renaissance Alliance

Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (“WVRA”) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to partner with local businesses, property owners, residents and public and private institutions to foster and sustain economic revitalization,

Ways to Engage

LSO Clinic

Our Clinics

Yale Law School offers more than 30 clinics that provide students with hands-on, practical experience in the law on a diverse range of subject matters.

YLS classroom in session

Simulation

Yale Law School offers a suite of innovative simulation courses based on real-world case studies.

Centers and Workshops

Yale Law School enhances the intellectual life of its academic community by sponsoring a variety of centers, programs, and workshops, inspired by the interests of its faculty and students.