Students in the Criminal Prosecution Clinic – New York County (CPC-NY) investigate and prosecute misdemeanor cases as Student Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (DANY). The course begins with a two-to-three-day intensive legal training boot camp where students learn the basics of working as an ADA. Afterward, students begin fieldwork under the supervision of experienced ADAs, devoting three full days per week.

Students will handle a docket of misdemeanor cases, where they will investigate; interview complainants, eyewitnesses, and police officers; gather evidence; obtain discovery; research legal issues; engage in motion practice; and determine appropriate dispositions.

Students will also be assigned to the Early Case Assessment Bureau (ECAB), arraignments, and criminal court calendar parts. In ECAB, students will screen cases by reviewing arrests, interviewing police officers, determining whether probable cause exists, determining appropriate legal charges, drafting court filings (complaints) to commence prosecution, and drafting declinations of prosecution where they determine a lack of probable cause. In arraignments and calendar court parts, students will have the opportunity to be on the record and interact with judges and defense attorneys in the courtroom.

Once fieldwork commences, the seminar will meet weekly for approximately two hours and will focus on case rounds, skills workshops, substantive criminal law and procedure, ethics and professional responsibility as necessitated by the students’ casework, and discussion of existing policies and procedures and proposed systemic reforms in the criminal justice system.

Students will receive 7 credits. Students should expect to spend a minimum of 22 hours per week on the course including fieldwork and seminars in the spring semester.

The course is graded on a letter basis. Material covered in this clinic is tested on the New York Law Exam (NYLE).

Prerequisites: Criminal Law; Evidence

Prerequisites or Co-requisites: Criminal Procedure: Investigation; Professional Responsibility: Criminal Practice (or Professional Responsibility)

If taken as co-requisites, courses should be taken concurrently with the clinic in the spring semester. Requirement may be waived by clinic faculty.

Recommended Courses: Trial Advocacy; Criminal Procedure: Adjudication (Process: Arrest to Trial)

7 Credits