Criminal Law Clinical Program
FULL YEAR – Learn first-hand what it means to be a criminal law attorney by formulating trial strategy, filing pretrial motions, participating in plea bargaining, trying cases and making sentencing arguments.
Whether representing underprivileged citizens in housing court, helping overturn a wrongful conviction, arguing for a client in an unemployment compensation case, or providing pro bono support to an immigrant applying for citizenship, you will have opportunities to gain practical skills under the guidance of top legal practitioners.
We offer three types of experiential courses—clinics and practicums, externships, and simulations. Each integrates doctrine, theory, skills, and legal ethics. Students receive ample professional feedback and are also asked to self-evaluate. For JD students, each course counts toward the ABA’s 6-credit experiential learning requirement.
Other opportunities to gain experience, which do not count towards the experiential learning requirement, include serving on the editorial board of one of our six law journals, participating in moot court competitions, or observing oral arguments at one of the state and federal courts in Greater Boston. Many international students are eligible to participate in optional practical training upon completion of their degree, an ideal option for those seeking to gain hands-on experience in the US legal market.
