LEGAL CLINIC

What do we offer?

D4J’s Criminal Law Clinic (the Clinic) gives students the opportunity to assist KBA advocates in their pro bono representation of indigent and vulnerable criminal defendants.

Participating students experience the application of academic teachings to the actual practice of law by working on real criminal cases during their fourth year of law school (or Criminal Masters program). Clinic lectures take place at the D4J Office, while representation activities (counseling and advocacy) take place in KBA advocates’ offices and, if needed, in court or prosecutor premises. The clinic students meet once a week for lectures and roundtable discussions on criminal procedure. Lectures are delivered by guest speakers who are legal professionals (Prosecutors, Lawyers, and Judges), CSO representatives, etc.

In addition to this lecture series, students work in teams to assist advocates as they represent clients in court and in all preparatory phases of criminal cases on a pro-bono basis. Students active in this Clinic will also be expected to share their Clinical experience with high school students through the outreach activities of the D4J partners implementing the justice education component.