The Gideon Fellowship for Criminal Defense is a 12-month clinical experience beginning the summer following the completion of the second year of law school. Through the fellowship, a student experiences a progression of various experiences in indigent defense work through their participation in the Public Defender Clinic and at both the Office of the Maricopa County Public Defender and the Federal Public Defender’s Office. The fellow is selected through a competitive application process and is formally awarded at the Annual Arizona Public Defender (APDA) conference in June.
The fellowship is open to one student per year following the second year of law school.