Gideon Fellowship for Criminal Defense

Program details

The Gideon Fellow:

• Receives a stipend payable half in fall and half in spring.
• Participates in the following rotation:
  • During the summer term, works in the Public Defender Clinic under the supervision of Jeff Roth, Deputy Public Defender at the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office.
  • During the fall term, works in the felony trial division under the supervision of one to two experienced trail attorneys at the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office.
  • During the spring term, works in the Capital Habeas Unit  at the Federal Public Defender's Office.

• Earns a total of twelve credits - six graded in fall and six pass/fail in spring

The fellow must pass a background check and be Rule 39 certified in order to participate in the fellowship. Rule 39 requires that:

• Students must have completed two full-time semesters of law school.
• Students must have taken Evidence and pre or co-requisites of Professional Responsibility, Criminal Law and Civil Procedure.
• Students must be in good academic standing.

Time commitments

• Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. Summer semester; 300 total hours (approx.30 hours per week)
• Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. Fall semester; 150 total hours (approx.10-15 hours per week)
• Federal Public Defender’s Office. Spring semester;150 total hours (approx. 10-15 hours per week)

Course information

• The fellow participates in the summer session of the Public Defender Clinic with Jeff Roth.
• The seminar class meets for two hours each week.
• Evidence is a prerequisite.

Questions

Please contact Renee Garcia at 602-496-1717.