Information for students
Applicants to the Juvenile Justice Clinic should have an interest in criminal defense or juvenile delinquency, enjoy oral advocacy, and possess strong communication skills. Students must demonstrate flexibility and the maturity to assume responsibility for representing clients.
Students directly represent children charged with offenses in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Each student will be responsible for all aspects of their cases-- including interviewing, discovery, investigations, written motion work, trial and post sentencing matters.
Prior academic performance will be considered; however, weight will be given to those students who can demonstrate an interest in the issues presented as well as to those who have prior experience in a related field.
Pre-Requisites
Pre-requisites for the class are Civil Procedure and Evidence. Criminal Procedure is strongly recommended, but not required. Rising second year students may apply but must be concurrently enrolled in Evidence in Fall 2L semester. Students must be in good academic standing to apply, and are expected to comply with all responsibilities as enumerated in Juvenile Justice Clinic Student Manual.
Students must have access to a car and/or be able to independently travel for the purposes of investigating their cases, serving motions, appearing in court, and meeting with clients.
Course Information
The Juvenile Justice Clinic course offers students a unique opportunity for an in-depth study of California juvenile delinquency law and procedure, as well as practical litigation experience. This course is a year-long, 12-unit course, comprised of a two-unit advanced criminal litigation skills course, a two-unit juvenile delinquency law and procedure class and a clinical component for both semesters. Students must enroll in all three components of the class.
The emphasis is to develop the skills and knowledge base to effectively represent the clients in court. The focus is the actual representation of our clients and larger policy issues presented by the juvenile delinquency system. Because the course is a year long, and the substantive classes are interwoven, students must complete the year in order to receive credit for the class. Students must complete 52 hours of work for every clinical unit awarded.
Students will be assigned cases periodically throughout the year. Our clients may be out of custody or in custody. Students are required to attend all proceedings, in court and out, as well as meet with their clients and their families regularly.
Practical Training of Law Students Requirement
The State Bar of California's Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program certifies law students to provide legal services under the supervision of an attorney. You must pay an initial $55 application fee, please see attached Fee Information for details.
Please review Chapter 1. Practical Training of Law Students.
Application Process
Both the clinics comprising the Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic and LLS practica are highly competitive and enrollment into most is by application only, although many of them admit interested students on a rolling basis.
To find clinics in 12Twenty:
- After logging in, go to "OCI and Job Postings"
- Search using the Filter for "Type of job"
- Scroll down and select "Law School Clinic or Practica" and hit return
PLEASE NOTE: Applications to clinics and practica require that you submit a resume through 12Twenty. This will require that your resume is approved in advance by the career development office. Please plan ahead accordingly.
Clinic directors share candidate lists in an effort to maximize the number of students who receive offers. If you apply to more than one clinic, that information may be used in determining your offer.