Charleston School of Law has announced a new partnership with the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office to provide students with practical experience in the challenging and rewarding field of criminal prosecution. The new clinic will serve as a bridge between classroom learning and the demanding reality of the courtroom.

Under the close supervision of an experienced attorney, students will be actively involved in each stage of the prosecution process, including interviewing witnesses, presenting plea agreements, identifying issues in cases, conducting research, preparing legal memoranda, and presenting witnesses during hearings and trials.

Students will gain a deeper understanding of the ethical responsibilities and unique challenges faced by a criminal prosecutor— not simply as an advocate, but as a minister of justice. Students will refine their ability to demonstrate professionalism and civility in an inherently adversarial environment, pursuing justice with integrity.

Applications for the Fall 2024 semester can be accessed via CORE and are due no later than Friday, April 5 at 12 noon.

Applicants will be selected after a screening and interview process by the professor conducting the course. Selected participants must commit to the course for the full semester. Students will participate in a weekly two-hour seminar and complete approximately 11 hours per week in clinical work, for a minimum of 150 hours of clinical work.

Subjects covered in the classes will include investigatory procedures (searches, seizures, confessions, etc.), adjudicative criminal procedures (charging documents, discovery, pre-trial hearings, etc.), guest speakers, and discussions.

Charleston Law now offers students seven specialized clinics including:

• Housing
• Family Law
• Domestic Violence
• Street Law
• Parole
• Mediation
• Criminal Prosecution