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, ten to eleven-unit course, comprised of a three-unit advanced criminal litigation skills course, a three-unit juvenile delinquency law and procedure class and a clinical component. Students must enroll in all three components of the class.
The emphasis in the Fall is to develop the skills and knowledge base to effectively represent the clients in court. In the Spring, the focus is on 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 56 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.