Criminal and Juvenile Justice Law Clinic

The criminal justice system needs repair. Though crime rates have fallen over the past four decades, the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world. More than 2 million people are behind bars. As a result of certain laws and policing practices, minorities and low-income residents are disproportionately likely to be arrested and imprisoned, often for non-violent crimes.

USF’s School of Law teaches students how to navigate the complicated criminal justice system to both ensure justice and to best advocate for their clients. Second- and third-year students represent people charged with misdemeanor offenses in San Francisco Superior Court. They also represent San Quentin State Prison inmates who were incarcerated for crimes they committed as teenagers and are now eligible for parole.

Under the supervision of USF law professors, the students handle nearly every aspect of a client’s case, including client and witness interviews, investigations, court appearances, client counseling, motions practice, suppression hearings, motion to return property hearings, trials, appeals, and writs of mandate.

Students attend a weekly seminar together with students in the Racial Justice Clinic. In the seminar, students learn the skills necessary to defend a criminal case from investigation to closing argument. The seminar also has a variety of dynamic and accomplished guest speakers who share their knowledge and experience.

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