Criminal Justice: Crime Victim Litigation Law Clinic

Limit: 6 students

Under the supervision of Executive Director Meg Garvin, and the lawyers of the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI), students learn both practical and theoretical approaches to the assertion and enforcement of victims’ rights within the criminal justice system. In a weekly 2-hour class, students learn basic victims’ rights jurisprudence, research techniques, Blue Book citation, and trial level victims’ rights practice, including effective motion practice and general practice skills. Students also benefit from guest lectures by national crime victims’ rights experts and experienced crime victim attorneys.

Through clinic participation, clinic students work to provide judges, practicing attorneys, and victim advocates information, research and legal analysis on crime victim laws. Under an attorney’s supervision, students will work on select projects. These projects require the students to apply legal research, writing and analysis to live legal issues. Projects include writing amicus briefs, preparing memoranda, drafting pleadings, and writing case summaries on victims’ rights-related issues. Students will also have the opportunity to assist NCVLI in writing amicus briefs for filing in trial and appellate courts nationwide.

The Clinic is open to all second and third year law students. This is a three-credit course, with grading on a pass/fail basis. Students are expected to work 4 hours per week in NCVLI’s downtown office.