Information for Students
Students who enroll in the year-long Death Penalty Clinic program work under the supervision of Elisabeth Semel, the Clinic Director and Professor of Clinical Law, and Ty Alper, Associate Director, and investigators and paralegals who are members of the legal teams assigned to individual cases. Students work on capital direct appeals and post-conviction cases, and occasionally on other matters relating to the death penalty and criminal law. Students review trial records, interview clients and witnesses, examine evidence, work with experts, and prepare habeas corpus petitions, motions and briefs. The Clinic is counsel or co-counsel for several individuals who are under a death sentence, and sometimes serves as counsel in additional litigation, such as representing amici curiae in capital cases before the Supreme Court.
Students who enroll in the one-semester Clinic program will be supervised by Senior Clinical Fellow and Staff Attorney Kate Weisburd. These students will work on research and investigation assignments related to capital cases in the South, where the Clinic is assisting counsel, usually at another non-profit office. They may also work on discrete projects, such as amicus curiae briefs.
The Clinic is administered like any law office and students must adhere scrupulously to rules regarding privilege and confidentiality. They will learn case management skills and should be prepared to work according to the demands of the litigation, including during breaks, when necessary. Our expectation is that students will work a minimum of 16 hours per week, though the actual number of hours may vary from week-to-week. Students should also expect to travel, including during school breaks. Because of the demands of our cases, Clinic students may not enroll concurrently in another clinic or field placement. We will also screen students for potential conflicts of interest.
Students enrolled in the year-long Clinic, as well as students enrolled in the semester-long Clinic, must also enroll in the Death Penalty Clinic Seminar, which is given in the fall semester. The Seminar provides the theoretical foundation and skills training for the Clinic. The Seminar meets Wednesdays from 3:20 – 5:10 p.m. In addition, students will meet with their assigned teams every other week throughout the entire year.
Enrollment in the Clinic (4 units per semester) and Seminar (2 units) is by permission. Prerequisites are Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Evidence. Faculty have the discretion to waive the prerequisites in individual cases and allow students to take these courses as co-requisites. We give preference to students who have taken Capital Punishment and the Constitution.
We accept applications only in the spring semester for the following fall and spring semesters. We do not accept applications in the fall semester. We will ask to meet with some students before making enrollment decisions. Notification of decisions will be made no later than the end of April. The Seminar and the Clinic are CR/NC.