Skills – 2 units. In the Criminal Defense Skills class, students learn how to practice criminal defense by studying every aspect of client representation, including client interviews, case investigations, plea negotiations, pretrial hearings, trials, sentencing hearings, and ethics. This class will benefit any student intending to practice client-centered trial work, as well as any student intending to work in criminal justice. The final project will focus on simulated sentencing hearings.
Prerequisite: Students should have taken criminal procedure, evidence, and/or trial advocacy, or have externed or will be externing in public defender offices or other client-centered and/or criminal justice externships.
Final Assessment: Skills Class Final Assignment (e.g. Trial, Mediation, Brief)
Graduation Requirements: Counts towards Professional Skills Requirement
Grading Mode: Letter Grading