LAW 7870

Juvenile Justice Clinic

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2024-2025.

In this clinic, students will assist in the representation of juvenile offenders sentenced to life without parole and other draconian punishments (e.g., life with parole where the juvenile has been repeatedly denied parole and sentences that exceed a reasonable life expectancy). Students will be involved in the preparation of petitions, legal memoranda, and briefs in state and federal courts. Students will also assist in marshalling information on behalf of individual clients and also in the development of applications for parole and executive clemency. Students will also be involved in litigation seeking broader systemic changes to the juvenile justice system (e.g., needed updates to laws governing transfer of children from juvenile to adult court) and advocacy efforts working on behalf of meaningful legislative change to unnecessarily harsh juvenile sentencing laws. All students are included in discussions regarding the necessary investigation, research, and strategy for cases as well as law reform efforts. To learn more about the Juvenile Justice Clinic, visit: https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinical-program/

When Offered Fall, Spring.

• Possess knowledge of the substantive and procedural law required for effective participation in the legal profession.
• Engage effectively in legal research, analysis, and problem solving in a time frame appropriate to legal practice.
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written form as counselors and advocates.
• Conduct themselves with the highest moral and ethical standards.

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