“I invite you into criminal district court, Monday through Friday at 9a.m.  But come early, otherwise elbow your way into the 125-person capacity courtroom where often 300-400 cases are scheduled.  Unfortunately you will see mostly black faces.  Drugs, assaults and larceny cases predominate.  You will hear that most defendants are unemployed and dropped out of school.  Many use drugs.  Criminal records are blockades to jobs and courthouse doors keep revolving.  The common denominator is poverty.”   Marcia H. Morey, District Court Judge, Durham County, NC. 

The Criminal Litigation Clinic, one of the program's most popular clinics, provides students with experience in representing individuals charged with crimes and in protecting the rights of victims and the state.  Students assist in relieving public defenders and district attorneys with their tremendous caseloads while gaining invaluable practical skills.  Criminal district court is our classroom.

For the students

Our Structure

The Criminal Litigation Clinic is a two-semester, four credit hour program that provides one semester of classroom instruction where the faculty trains students through a comprehensive review of North Carolina criminal procedure and trial practice. During this semester students can also observe and assist instructors in actual case preparation. In the second semester students are given practical skills opportunities through either an internship or an externship.  As interns, students handle cases that the Durham County Public Defender's Office refers to the NCCU Law legal clinic or as externs they are assigned to District Attorney's Offices throughout the state.  On rare occasions, students may also be placed with law firms.  Students handle cases including infractions and misdemeanors such as larceny, trespassing, assault, probation violation and protective order violations.
Prerequisite:  Trial Practice, Criminal Procedure   
Supervised by Clinical Professors Jeffrey Edwards and Dionne Gonder

WHAT WE DO
Whether students are acting as prosecutors or defenders, students make initial contact with the client and coordinate the necessary appointments, pretrial investigations and motions for their case.  They prepare clients and witnesses for trial and appear before the judge with their client.  On many occasions, clients are unable to schedule appointments before their court date; therefore, students may not meet their clients until they go to the courthouse.  As a result, they learn to process information, plea-bargain and develop legal arguments quickly, giving them the confidence and competence to walk into a courtroom and handle any unforeseen circumstances.  Students are reminded daily of the importance of counsel - whether their client is the defendant or the victim.

INDIGENT DEFENSE

Need Assistance?  The Criminal Litigation Clinic Internship Program represents clients who have been charged with misdemeanors and infractions in Durham County District Court.  We accept referrals from the Durham County Public Defender’s Office.  On your first court date, you can request a court appointed attorney, or contact the Durham County Public Defender at 919-564-7000 for a referral. 

EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Need an Extern?  The Criminal Litigation Clinic Externship Program places law students with District Attorneys and Public Defenders throughout the state.  Externs are usually placed during the spring semester and summer terms.  For more information, contact our Supervising Attorney, Jeff Edwards or Dionne Gonder at 919-530-7166. 

Fulfilling Our Commitment to Community Service
The Criminal Litigation Clinic provides students with the opportunity to represent individuals charged with crimes, or to represent the State and victims of crime, while under the supervision of an experienced attorney. Students work with public defenders and district attorneys across the state, and handle criminal cases from the initial client interview through trial, gaining invaluable experience and developing the practical skills that form the basis of a successful criminal practice. Through this work, our students play a critical role in becoming the solution to the community problem of backlog in our court system.

Last Updated 08/15/08