This clinic is grounded in the development of fundamental practical and legal skills necessary to serve you well as you embark on your career as a practicing attorney. You will also be challenged to think critically and creatively about the criminal justice system, the role of prosecutors, legal ethics, and criminal law and procedure.
The primary goal of the Criminal Prosecution Clinic is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the substantive and practical skills to function as an effective and ethical prosecutor in the criminal justice system.
The Criminal Prosecution Clinic Course will involve a combination of classroom work and supervised student prosecution of individuals charged with petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor, and gross misdemeanor offenses in Hennepin, Ramsey, and Anoka County District Courts.
There also will be a weekly two-hour seminar component that will include lectures on substantive criminal law and procedure, criminal justice policy issues, simulation exercises, role playing, skills training exercises, and self-evaluation.
Students enrolled in the Criminal Prosecution Clinic are further encouraged to enroll in Trial Practice and/or Criminal Procedure.
Additional Commitments:
To ensure a fulfilling experience in this Clinic:
- Students must be willing to make a time commitment that goes beyond the classroom work
- Students must arrange their class schedules in a way that allows them to appear in court, conduct investigations, and meet with students.
- Students must have at least one morning available each week to appear in court.
What to expect when working on cases and with clients: Students will handle cases at all stages of the criminal process, including arraignments, pre-trial conferences, and court trials.
NOTE: This course requires certification pursuant to the student practice rule and is open to JD students only.