Student-attorneys in the Criminal Defense Clinic will represent indigent clients who are charged with crimes in Baltimore City or who have already been convicted of crimes and are serving prison sentences. Student-attorneys will practice holistic “client-centered” defense, tailoring their representation to the goals of each individual client and collaborating with the School of Social Work to address clients’ broader social support needs as necessary. In the fall, student-attorneys will seek the compassionate release of clients serving lengthy sentences in federal prison. Student-attorneys will work closely with their clients to conduct intensive fact and mitigation investigation and legal research. They will draft and file a comprehensive motion seeking release in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

In the spring, student-attorneys will zealously represent their clients through every phase of a trial-stage criminal case, from the early stages of the case; through the discovery, investigation and motions phases; in negotiations with prosecutors; and at trial and sentencing. Through their representation, student-attorneys will explore the criminal process and criminal practice in depth.

The Clinic includes a seminar component. In the seminar, students will be introduced to the criminal legal system and criminal defense practice. The seminar will have two major components: exposing students to the historical and current influences on the modern criminal legal system and practical preparation for the intensive work of trial-stage client representation. In seminar, students will advance the lawyering skills developed in fieldwork through a series of mock exercises and/or simulations covering client interviewing; investigation; defense theory development; negotiations; motions practice; and basic trial skills.

Upon completion of the clinic, student-attorneys can expect to have developed a comprehensive skillset in client-centered defense practice, including:

• • Client interviewing and relationship building
• • Fact investigation
• • Discovery practice
• • Defense theory development
• • Plea negotiations
• • Criminal motions practice
• • Trial advocacy (e.g., opening statements, cross-examination, closing arguments)
• • Sentencing advocacy

This course is a full-year clinic, in which students enroll for 5 credits in the fall and 5 credits in the spring.

Students who enroll in this clinic are required to have taken criminal procedure and evidence as pre-requisites. Evidence, but not criminal procedure, can be taken as a co-requisite in the fall semester. Students enrolled in this clinic will be required to attend in-person clinic orientation on Friday, August 23, 2024, in addition to any clinic-specific orientation that the professor may schedule.

P: Criminal Procedure

P/C: Evidence (if taking as co-req, must be taken in the fall)