The Tennessee Legislature recently honored the UT Charles Miller Legal Clinic for its 60 years as an active learning facility.

Numerous professors, students and alumni attended the presentation ceremony to commemorate the achievement.

Law students use the clinic to help prepare for future legal scenarios. The program works much like an active law firm, and lets students expand their skills and knowledge by applying the curriculum.

Practicing these skills is key for a student's future success, said Benjamin H. Barton, current Director of Clinical Programs for the clinic.

"(The Legal Clinic) shows how much we care about teaching people to be lawyers," said Barton. "It lets students practice being a lawyer before graduating."

Students of the program have commented on how they often use the practical experience of the Legal Clinic in real life, said Barton.

The Legal Clinic is the oldest continuing operating clinic in the country. Professor Charles Miller founded the clinic in 1947 and was the Director of Clinical Programs for nearly 30 years. Among similar clinical programs, UT's program is ranked 16th in the nation.