Criminal Defense

To effectively represent their clients, students must become well-versed in New York State and federal criminal procedure. As a result, much time in and out of class is devoted to reviewing basic principles of the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments. Statutory construction and analysis is also an important part of criminal defense practice, and key portions of the New York State Penal Law and Criminal Procedure Law are analyzed repeatedly during the semester. Additionally, the Clinic highlights a number of Professional Responsibility issues with a special emphasis on those that often arise in the criminal defense context.

The Clinic teaching methodology revolves around a pattern of reading, observing, simulating, critiquing and reflecting. The Clinic goal is to fully familiarize students with each lawyering task before they actually perform them on behalf of their clients.