Gideon Fellowship for Criminal Defense

Program details

The Gideon Fellow:

• Receives a stipend payable half in summer and half in fall.
• Participates in the following rotations:
  • Spring term (2L), enrolls in Public Defender Clinic, LAW 772
  • Summer term (between 2L and 3L), works as a Rule 39 intern in the felony trial division under the supervision of two experienced trial attorneys at the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office.
  • Fall term (3L), works in the Capital Habeas Unit at the Federal Public Defender's Office.
• Earns a total of nine credits - six graded in the spring and three pass/fail in the fall.

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 or be taking concurrently in the spring terms: Professional Responsibility, Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, and Evidence.
• Students must be in good academic standing.

Time commitments

• Spring semester: 270 total hours (approx. 30 hours per week); Public Defender Clinic.
• Summer semester: 400 total hours at a rate of $17/hour (approx. 35-40 hours per week for 10 weeks); Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office.

• Fall semester: 165 total hours (approx. 10-15 hours per week); Federal Public Defender’s Office.

Questions

Please contact Teri Adam, Director of Career Services.