CLINIC Assistance Act

The CLINIC Assistance Act creates a federal grant program to help accredited law schools establish clinical programs where law students assist individuals with employee welfare benefit plans. These grants, capped at $500,000 per school per year, allow institutions to hire supervising attorneys and support students in helping people appeal denied benefits, sue for unpaid costs, or enforce their rights under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The Department of Labor will coordinate with these programs to share information and provide lists of eligible schools to those needing assistance. A total of $5 million is authorized for this initiative over five years, starting in fiscal year 2026.