LAW 0721:
Criminal Litigation Clinic: Montco DA's Office
Fall 2023 • Section F21
• CRN 44826
Course Description
Participants, after an intensive training period, will appear in various units throughout the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office as Certified Legal Interns on behalf of the Commonwealth. Students will be assigned to the pre-trials unit, where they will handle probation/parole violation hearings, summary appeals, and other miscellaneous pretrial hearings; the juvenile unit, where they will have the opportunity to work on misdemeanor and felony bench trials; the Family Protection Unit, where they will work closely with assistant district attorneys handling domestic violence and sex assault cases; and, the Narcotics/Firearm Units, where students will work closely with assistant district attorneys handling drug and firearm related cases. Student experiences will be closely supervised and critically analyzed. Mock presentations and evaluations will be conducted throughout the course. Successful participants need excellent interpersonal and communication skills, flexibility and an ability to maintain their composure under stress. Students will be interacting not only with members of the judiciary before whom they appear, but also with opposing counsel, witnesses and victims of crime, some of whom may be uncooperative.
Schedule
| Day/Time | Location | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Th 9:30-11:30 AM | TBA | First two Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m and then 9:30-11:30 AM for remaining of clinic |
Additional Time Requirements
Classroom Segment: All students, regardless of which days they appear in court, must be available all day (9 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.) on the first and second Thursday of the semester for two intensive training sessions. All students, regardless of the days they appear in court, are required to participate in a classroom component from 9:30-11:30 a.m. each Thursday.
Registration Info
Registration Notes
Classroom: First two Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., every Thursday thereafter from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Pre-Requisites
You must have completed the following courses before enrolling in this course:
- LAW 0460 (Trial Advocacy I ) or LAW 0558 (Introduction to Trial Advocacy)
- LAW 0532 (Criminal Procedure I)
- LAW 0540 (Evidence) (C or better)