Criminal Defense Clinic Course Information for Clients
Clinic Details
- Credits: 6 credits (2 for seminar, 4 for case work). Optional second semester for 4 additional credits.
- Who Can Join: Open to 3L students. Priority for those who have taken Evidence and Criminal Procedure with a student practice card. Selection by lottery.
- Goals: Provide zealous, competent, and ethical representation to clients. Encourage critical thinking about the legal system.
- Seminar Format: Focuses on trial advocacy and client skills with simulation exercises.
- Casework: Misdemeanor cases in local counties, limited post-conviction cases. Students manage interviewing, negotiations, hearings, and trials.
After Graduation
Clinic students move on to impressive roles, like:
- Public Defender offices in Alabama and elsewhere
- District Attorney offices
- Non-profit legal aid
- Government positions
- Judicial clerkships
“My semester in the Criminal Defense Clinic has given me confidence that I can hit the ground running going into practice. I entered the semester knowing I want to do criminal defense work after graduation. … One thing I had not done, however, was to follow a client from just after their arrest to their last court date. I took the criminal defense clinic with the hopes of filling in that gap by learning how the process of representation works from conducting an intake to completing the terms of a plea deal, which is exactly what happened.” — Jackson Hill ’25
“What I have enjoyed most about the Clinic is the opportunity to advocate for clients in real-world settings. Every time I walk into a courtroom or speak with a client, I feel a tremendous sense of pride and purpose. As I transition into my legal career, I will carry the lessons, experiences, and confidence I gained in the Clinic with me moving forward.” — Kennedy Freeman ’26
“This semester taught me that being a lawyer is not about being right, it’s about fighting for people who have been told, over and over again, that they don’t matter. It’s about finding cracks in a system designed to keep them down and prying them open just wide enough to let some light in. It’s about showing up, over and over again, even when the outcome feels inevitable because every person deserves someone who will stand beside them and say, ‘You matter. Your story matters.’” — Mackenzie Cole ’26
