Criminal Defense Clinic
The Criminal Defense Clinic is offered as a full-year graded course during the Fall and Spring semesters. Participants earn four credit hours per semester and earn a total of eight credit hours for the year. Participants are limited to third year law students and a maximum of 8 students are selected for this clinic.
The Criminal Defense Clinic provides a community service by representing defendants in criminal cases who would otherwise be unable to afford their own legal representation. Cases involve misdemeanors, felonies, and juvenile offenses in Lubbock County and the surrounding metropolitan area. Students are closely supervised at all stages of their cases by Associate Professor Patrick S. Metze. The clinic also works closely with members of the local and state bars to expose students to professional development, networking, and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) opportunities while still in law school.
By the end of each semester, each student will have represented 4-6 clients. Students are fully responsible for their cases, from intake through disposition. The classroom component of the clinic focuses on skills development, ethics, and case strategy related to the practice of criminal law. Students also have the opportunity to hone their research and writing skills by drafting motions, letters, memoranda, and occasionally appellate briefs.
The clinical experience will benefit students regardless of whether they wish to go into defense, prosecution or civil litigation. Participants handle every phase of client representation, which may include, but not limited to:
- Investigating cases and researching the law
- Preparing cases for trial and negotiating with the prosecution
- Interviewing and counseling clients and witnesses
- Representing clients in hearings, and on occasion, representing clients in trials
Prerequisites
- The Criminal Defense Clinic is open to third year law students only.
- Required Classes: Evidence, Criminal Procedure, and Professional Responsibility
- Recommended prerequisites: Texas Criminal Procedure, Trial Advocacy, and/or moot court or mock trial experience
- Students cannot be on scholastic probation
- Accepted students cannot be previously or concurrently enrolled in another clinic, cannot be concurrently enrolled in an externship, may not have outside employment (although exceptions can be made), and may not sit for the February bar exam
- Enrollment is by application and invitation only