Criminal Clinical Program |
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Students must apply and be accepted to the program before they register for any of the courses listed below. Students enrolled in the Criminal Law Clinics carry full responsibility for their cases while receiving close faculty supervision. In all the Criminal Clinics, students conduct investigations to formulate trial strategy, file appropriate pre-trial motions, participate in plea bargaining, try cases before judges and make sentencing arguments. They are expected to follow their cases from beginning to end; in recent years some clinic students have taken their cases to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Accepted students must register for all required components, based on their class year and the semester that they begin the program. The listing of components follows: |
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3L students who started the Criminal Clinic in Spring 2008 must enroll in the following: |
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| JD 913 (A1) | Criminal Trial Practice II (C) | W 4:20-6:20 |
8 credits Fall |
Professor Rossman, et al |
| CourseInfo Site | ||||
| Criminal Trial Practice II will consider advanced issues in criminal practice, such as motions to suppress and sentencing advocacy. In conjunction with their class work, these students will be assigned to either the Prosecutor or Defender component of the clinic. Each student will be expected to devote at least two mornings a week to their work in court. | ||||
| JD 920 (A1) | Criminal Trial/Issues in Criminal Justice | M 4:20-6:20 |
3 credits Fall |
CourseInfo Site |
| This seminar will explore issues which the students encounter in the cases which they litigate. The seminar will discuss the role of the parties in the criminal justice system and institutional problems that play a recurring role. | ||||
| JD 923 (A1) | Criminal Trial/Professional Responsibility | T 4:20-6:20 |
3 credits Fall |
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| The course will focus on ethical issues that arise in the context of criminal trial litigation. This component satisfies the School of Law’s Professional Responsibility requirement. | ||||
3L students who will start the Criminal Clinic in Fall 2008 must enroll in the following: |
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| Newly accepted 3Ls must commit themselves to participate in the clinic for both semesters of their third year. As a prerequisite to their participation, these students must have completed by the end of the first semester of fall 2008, a course in Evidence, a course in Trial Advocacy, and a course in Criminal Procedure. | ||||
| JD 982 (A1) | Criminal Trial Practice I (C) | R 4:20-6:20 |
5 credits Fall |
Professor Rossman, et al |
| CourseInfo Site | ||||
| Criminal Trial Practice I will meet in the first semester for two hours each week at the law school and will require students to be available one morning a week to be in court, from Monday through Thursday. The classroom component of this course will provide students an introduction to Massachusetts criminal procedure and basic instruction in lawyering skills such as case planning and investigation. Students in the program will be assigned to cases handled by senior members of the Prosecutor and Defender programs and will be expected to conduct tasks out of court such as legal research, fact investigation, witness interviews and preparation. One morning a week, these students will be in court observing and second seating the cases they have helped to prepare. After the completion of this course, students will be assigned to the Prosecutor or Defender component of the clinic and must register for the appropriate section in the following semester. | ||||
| JD 898 (A1) | Criminal Trial Practice II: |
T 4:20-6:20 |
8 credits Spring |
Professors Kaplan & Rossman |
| This course will meet in the second semester for those students who have completed Criminal Trial Practice I. Students in the Defender Program will be assigned to represent indigent defendants charged with criminal offenses in either the Boston Municipal Court or the Boston Juvenile Court . In both locations, the students will act as defense counsel under the supervision of a clinical professor. The work in court will provide students with exposure to lawyering experiences such as investigation, interviewing, counseling and trial advocacy. Primary emphasis is on the development of trial skills, and students will spend the first part of the semester acting as defense counsel in misdemeanor cases of increasing complexity. Later in the semester, representation in felony cases is possible, as well as exposure to a number of other aspects of the criminal justice system. At all times, of course, case assignments are based upon an individual assessment of a student's progress and demonstrated competence. NOTE: Students in the Defender Program must be available to be in court two days a week, from Monday through Thursday. | ||||
| JD 899 (A1) | Criminal Trial Practice II: Prosecutors (C) | T 4:20-6:20 |
5 credits Spring |
Professor Rossman |
| This course will meet in the second semester for those students who have completed Criminal Trial Practice I. Students in the Prosecutor Program will act as prosecutors in the Quincy District Court, for the Norfolk County District Attorney's office. The students will have responsibility for all aspects of the cases they are assigned, under the supervision of the clinical professor. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of experiences, including investigation, interviewing and trial advocacy. Students will spend the first part of the semester representing the Commonwealth in misdemeanor cases of increasing complexity. Later in the semester, representation in felony cases is possible, as well as having an opportunity to appear before a six-person jury session. At all times, of course, case assignments are based upon an individual assessment of a student's progress and demonstrated competence. NOTE: Students in the Prosecutor Program must be available to be in court one day a week, Tuesday through Thursday. | ||||
2L students who will start the Criminal Clinic in Spring 2009 must enroll in the following: |
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| Accepted 2L students must commit themselves to participate in the clinic for two semesters, continuing on into the first semester of their third year. PREREQUISITE: Evidence (Fall). PREREQUISITE/COREQUISITE: Criminal Procedure. | ||||
| JD 981 (A1) | Criminal Trial Advocacy | T 2:10-4:10 |
3 credits Spring |
Professor Rossman, et al |
| Trial Advocacy is a three credit course which will meet once a week for three hours. It will focus on courtroom skills in the context of criminal trial litigation. | ||||
| JD 982 (A1) | Criminal Trial Practice I (C) | R 2:10-5:10 |
5 credits Spring |
Professor Rossman, et al |
| Criminal Trial Practice I will meet in the second semester for two hours each week at the law school and will require students to be available one morning a week to be in court, from Monday through Thursday. The classroom component of this course will provide students an introduction to Massachusetts criminal procedure and basic instruction in lawyering skills such as case planning and investigation. Students in the program will be assigned to cases handled by senior members of the Prosecutor and Defender programs and will be expected to conduct tasks out of court such as legal research, fact investigation, witness interviews and preparation. One morning a week, these students will be in court observing and second seating the cases they have helped to prepare. After the completion of this course, students will be assigned to the Prosecutor or Defender component of the clinic and must register for the appropriate section in the following semester. | ||||