Federal Defender Clinic

Course Description

Fieldwork

Clinic fieldwork encompasses defending clients who have been accused of federal offenses. Beginning at "Petty Offense Day," clinic students, under close faculty supervision, assume the primary duties of representation. These duties include interviewing, advising, and counseling clients, researching and investigating allegations, developing defenses, and developing mitigation. 

In addition to representing clients in misdemeanor cases, clinic students work on federal felony cases through the clinic's affiliation with the Federal Defenders of New York. Students will work directly with experienced Federal Defenders in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York to help them defend federal felony cases.

Seminar

The early weeks of the fall semester are devoted to developing interviewing skills, negotiating techniques, and effective strategies to employ during court appearances. Students conduct mock client interviews and negotiating sessions to prepare for commonly seen scenarios, and to encounter professional ethics in a seminar environment. Students may also be asked to attend trainings throughout the year.

Qualifications for Applicants

Students must have taken, or be able to take concurrently with the clinic, Criminal Procedure and either Evidence or a trial advocacy or litigation course.

Particular Scheduling Requirements

In addition to the evening seminar hours, FDC students will be required to attend approximately six court intake days per semester. Accordingly, students will need to be available every Tuesday between 9 AM and 1:30 PM and may not schedule other classes at that time.

* 14 credits include 3 clinical credits and 4 academic seminar credits each semester.

** If students have not taken any of these courses, they are expected to take them concurrently with the clinic.