LAW 893TUT - Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic

Students in the Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic represent incarcerated clients seeking “second-look” opportunities–resentencing under the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, preparing for hearings before the Board of Parole, appealing parole or resentencing denials, or applying for clemency. Student attorneys also engage, in partnership with local organizations, in advocacy for criminal system policy reforms, including in the areas of parole and sentencing reform. Clinic students will learn to build client relationships; interview witnesses; conduct investigation; develop mitigation evidence; work with experts and with community partners; conduct legal and policy research; and engage in oral and written advocacy. In addition to scheduled seminar times, students will meet weekly in teams with supervisors and will engage in fieldwork outside of class time. Clinic work will involve visiting clients incarcerated in New York State correctional facilities. Clinic students must have availability on Fridays to visit with clients. This is a four-credit clinic in the first semester. Students are asked to commit to two semesters in the clinic when they enroll in the Fall. The second semester of the clinic will be three credits.

Credits: 1-6