Misdemeanor Prosecution Clinic – 7550

As a student in the Misdemeanor Prosecution Clinic you will have a challenging and rewarding experience prosecuting misdemeanor cases in jurisdictions throughout the metro area.  Through your classroom and courtroom work, you will learn and develop the fundamental practical and legal skills that will serve you well as you embark on your career as a practicing attorney.  You also will be challenged to think critically and creatively about the criminal justice system, the role of prosecutors, legal ethics, and criminal law and procedure. 

Students registering for this semester-long clinic will join other students who are enrolled in the year-long Criminal Justice Clinic.    

The primary goal of the Prosecution Clinic is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the substantive and practical skills to function as an effective and ethical prosecutor in the criminal justice system.  The Prosecution Clinic Course will involve a combination of classroom work and supervised student prosecution of individuals charged with petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor, and gross misdemeanor offenses in Hennepin, Ramsey, and Anoka County District Courts.  Students will handle cases at all stages of the criminal process, including arraignments, pre-trial conferences, and court trials.  There also will be a weekly two-hour seminar component that will include lectures on substantive criminal law and procedure, criminal justice policy issues, simulation exercises, role playing, skills training exercises, and self-evaluation. 

To ensure that you have a fulfilling experience in this Clinic, students must be willing to make a substantial time commitment that goes beyond the classroom work.  This will require students to arrange their class schedules in a way that allows students to appear in court, conduct investigations, and meet with clients.  In particular, you should arrange your class schedule so you have at least one morning available each week to appear in court.  Also, students enrolling in this clinic must have successfully completed an Evidence course or they must be enrolled in Evidence during the fall semester.  Students are further encouraged to enroll in Trial Practice and/or Criminal Procedure.