Founded in 2001, the clinic seeks justice for individuals facing the death penalty by providing them with high-quality representation; offers students a rich opportunity for meaningful hands-on experience in high-stakes, complex litigation; and exposes problems endemic to the administration of capital punishment.
Clinic Director: Elisabeth Semel
A nationally recognized expert on capital punishment, Elisabeth Semel is the founding director of the Death Penalty Clinic. She has published and spoken widely on issues related to the death penalty, race discrimination in jury selection, and the rights of individuals accused of crime. Throughout her career, she has defended criminal defendants in state and federal courts with an emphasis on representation at the trial level, including in homicides and capital cases. Read more about our staff.
Clinic Associate Director: Ty Alper
Ty Alper has been representing indigent clients on death row for almost two decades. Prior to joining the Berkeley Law faculty, he served as a staff attorney at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta. He has written extensively on issues related to lethal injection, physician participation in executions, and post-conviction litigation. Read more about our staff.
APPLY TO THE CLINIC
Clinical Program Contact Information: 510.643.4800 • clinicalprogram@law.berkeley.edu