CLN: Criminal Defense Clinic (Spinney)
Additional Information
Experiential CourseYes
Skills Training
Oral Presentations
Drafting Legal Documents
Other Professional Skills:
Grading
20% Participation,
10% Paper,
70% Other (not specified)
No
Class meets in person.
Meeting Times/Location
T 11:00AM - 1:00PM
Silverman Hall 52
R 9:00AM - 1:00PM
Silverman Hall 52
Category
Clinics/Externships
Credits
6.0
PLEASE SEE IMPORTANT ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES FOR CLINICS AVAILABLE ON THE REGISTRATION INSTRUCTION PAGE.
This clinical course will introduce students to the daily practice of a Philadelphia public defender while cultivating the necessary skills to be a criminal defense lawyer. Clinic students will represent clients of the Defender Association of Philadelphia in felony preliminary hearings and misdemeanor trials in the Municipal Court of Philadelphia.
The CDC is comprised of a weekly seminar, court preparation, court hearings, and client interviews. Students will attend court about 8 times during the semester and will ordinarily be assigned one or two cases per court day. Students will directly counsel clients and interact regularly with judges, witnesses, assistant DAs, and court staff. Depending on the cases assigned, students may cross-examine witnesses in contested preliminary hearings; litigate full bench trials on misdemeanor offenses; argue motions to suppress evidence, for reduction of bail, discovery, or dismissal of charges due to speedy trial violations; or negotiate favorable non-trial dispositions.
The instructor will supervise all court appearances, but students will conduct hearings, develop case theories, research relevant case law, and prepare lines of questioning and argument themselves. Non-court days will include lectures on criminal law, procedure, and trial skills, and presentations by attorneys working in specialized areas.
Although the clinic is practically oriented, students’ cases and observations will inevitably raise broader issues regarding criminal law, including the intersection of law enforcement, race, poverty, the wisdom of existing drug laws, the roles of judges, prosecutors, and the police, and the ethics of criminal defense work. Students with varying viewpoints on these and related issues are encouraged to enroll assuming they are willing to put their clients’ interests first.
MATERIALS: Instructor-provided handouts, articles, and sample case files. Students are required to purchase the PA Crimes Code or print relevant statutes themselves. You may purchase materials at the Penn Book Center.
TIME & LOCATION: The clinic meets 2 days per week (Tuesdays for the Seminar and Thursdays for Court), typically for 3 hours each day. Preliminary hearing court typically begins at 7:45 am and ends by early afternoon. Misdemeanor trials begin at 9 am and can continue well into the afternoon. Students should plan accordingly. The Defender Assoc. is located at 1441 Sansom St. The Criminal Justice Center is at 1301 Filbert Street. Court is sometimes unpredictable and can sometimes extend beyond the preset scheduled time. In addition to class time, students should expect to spend 6 hours per week preparing for cases the day before court. This is a real-life experience where professional responsibility and unpredictability are expected.
REQUIREMENT & CREDIT: The course is open to 3Ls and 2nd semester 2Ls. You must be in Philadelphia to participate. Criminal procedure and evidence are pre or co-requisites. Enrollment is limited to 8 students. Class attendance and courtroom appearances are mandatory. There will be additional requirements that students must complete on their own time—such as observing and conducting interviews with new clients.
PLEASE NOTE: The clinic is not just a class; it’s a professional commitment to clients, peers, and faculty. If you are enrolled in a clinic, you will have until Monday, November 24th, at 5pm to confirm and commit to your seat. Additional instructions will be provided via email after you are enrolled. Once you confirm and commit, you will be fully enrolled in the clinic and may not drop without permission from the instructor and the Dean of Students.
Criminal Law and Procedure Learning outcomes: Demonstrate a core understanding of criminal law and procedure; Perform legal analysis in the context of criminal law and procedure; Communicate effectively on topics related to criminal law and procedure; Demonstrate an understanding of the role criminal law and procedure play in society and their impact on other areas of law and society.
Textbooks
"Crimes Code of Pennsylvania" by Lexis Nexis |