Public Defense Practicum

Public Defense Practicum - Professor Joanna Perini-Abbott

• Course Number: LAW-796 & 797
• Course Type: Highly Specialized & Experiential
• Credits: 4-6 each semester, 8-12 credits total
• Enrollment Limit: 12
• Registration notes: This is a yearlong course and students will be registered for both LAW 796 in the Fall and LAW 797 in the Spring semesters.
• Description:  Students will work in a cohort of 8-12 Lewis & Clark students with a dedicated supervisor at MPD overseeing all case work. The supervising attorney will also provide instruction and training on client counseling, case assessment, courtroom skills, and negotiations. Students will work primarily on misdemeanor cases through all stages of representation. Students will have the opportunity to interview and advise clients, investigate cases, draft and argue motions, negotiate case resolutions, participate in trials, and present at sentencing hearings under the supervision and guidance of the supervising attorney.

  Preference will be given to 3Ls and those students who qualify to be certified law students. Accepted students may at times have trials that run from Monday into Tuesday or Wednesday into Thursday. Students should be prepared to plan their course schedule accordingly to ensure they can attend these necessary court dates.

  Students interested in applying should submit the following information in one PDF document to jperini-abbott@lclark.edu.

  • A statement of interest explaining why you want to participate in the practicum;
  • A writing sample (no longer than 5 pages);
  • A resume;
  • A list of past or current legal internship, externship or volunteer positions including any upcoming summer or school year position/s if you already have one (if not, that is okay); and
  • One reference.
  Applications are due by May 3.
• Prerequisite: none, although preference will be given to 3Ls and students who qualify to be certified law students.
• Evaluation Method: TBD
• Capstone: no
• WIE: no