LAW 5858 - Juvenile Defense Clinic Practicum

Credit(s): (3 credits for 3Ls; 2 credits for 2Ls)
Prerequisite(s): (3Ls Only): The Legal Profession (LAW 5721);
Co-requisite(s): Juvenile Defense Clinic Course Component (LAW 5624).
This is an experiential clinical course in which third-year students are certified under Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XX and engage in the actual representation of juvenile defendants in delinquency proceedings before the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court. Second-year students assist supervising professors and third-year students with representation. All students receive intensive training in litigation skills and close individual supervision by clinic faculty to ensure representation is consistent with best practices in juvenile and criminal defense. Third-year students make frequent court appearances and have the opportunity to engage in plea bargaining, trial advocacy, and dispositional advocacy. All students gain experience in client interviewing and counseling, factual investigation, motions practice, trial preparation, and holistic advocacy. Students may also have the opportunity to engage in writs and appellate practice. Students meet as a group on a weekly basis to engage in case conferencing and universalize the learning arising from each individual representation experience. This course is graded on the 4.0 scale. Participation requires consent of the instructor, and preference is given to third-year students. Note: This course requires a pre-semester orientation.