Criminal Law

The criminal law program at BU Law encompasses not only foundational criminal procedure and evidence courses but also a wide range of clinical offerings in which students handle actual cases in court. BU Law’s unique Criminal Law Clinical Program allows students to view the system from both sides, providing opportunities to defend clients facing criminal prosecution as well as prosecute cases on behalf of the district attorney. In their first semester, students act in a supporting role on cases handled by ‘senior’ members of the Defender Clinic and of one of the country’s few Prosecutor Clinics (students with a strong preference may, however, select to work exclusively on only defense or prosecution matters). In their second semester, ‘senior’ students work exclusively as a student Prosecutor or student Defender and carry full responsibility for their cases. Students can also participate in the Wrongful Convictions Practicum, in which they represent people who are incarcerated in post-conviction litigation.  

In the classroom, criminal law courses and seminars cover everything from white-collar crime—including whistleblower law and financial institution self-regulation—to military law; international criminal law; and gender, violence, and the law. In The Criminal System: Theory and Practice, students put what they are learning into context, examining the history of the US criminal system, how it compares to other countries’ criminal systems, and potential reforms.

LLM students can choose from among the JD offerings and also, through the LLM in American Law program, are introduced to these topics through LLM-only courses such as Criminal Law for LLMs and Fundamentals of US Constitutional Law for LLM Students, among others.