CRIMINAL DEFENSE CLINIC (State, City & Federal Tracks)
The Criminal Defense Clinic offers JD students the opportunity to work on real cases and represent real clients under the supervision of practicing attorneys in the areas of felony, misdemeanor, dependency or juvenile representation.
The program offers two tracks in the fall semester:
- Felony/Dependency/Delinquency work with Pima County Public Defense Services or
- Misdemeanor work with Tucson City Public Defender’s Office (which includes an emphasis on Community Court representation, where students support the work of a collaborative and holistic court focused on providing for the whole person and their behavioral health needs)
A third track is available in the spring semester:
- Federal Felony work with the Federal Public Defender’s Office
This clinic has a 1-hour classroom component, once a week, with the remainder of weekly hours dedicated to field work on behalf of clients. This clinic focuses on the development of lawyering skills in the context of felony/misdemeanor criminal or family defense work, primarily through case management and trial/oral advocacy preparation. Such preparation includes client engagement and witness interviewing, cultural awareness, collaborative problem solving, system engagement, plea bargaining by presentation of issues identified and mitigation developed, case investigation, public speaking, legal research, motion preparation and argument, and sentencing hearings. During the semester, the student may also have the opportunity to participate in trials or other evidentiary hearings.