ASU Law Clinic

Prosecution Clinic

Experiential learning for practical skills in criminal prosecution

The Prosecution Clinic will help unlock your courtroom potential by giving you the opportunity to try real criminal cases. Under the supervision of experienced attorneys, Certified Limited Practice Students in the Prosecution Clinic handle all trial-related tasks while prosecuting misdemeanor cases in municipal courts in Maricopa County. In class, students discuss the role of the prosecutor in the criminal justice system, the prosecutor’s ethical obligations and Arizona victims’ rights laws. Students are taught how prosecutors present trials from opening through closing and students have the opportunity to sharpen their trial skills in mock exercises. But the real trial learning occurs in the courtroom where students conduct trials and receive feedback from experienced prosecutors and judges. Students may have the opportunity to handle a jury trial.

The goal of the Prosecution Clinic is to give students a hands-on opportunity to learn what it means to be an ethical, effective prosecutor while developing and improving trial skills by:

Maximizing real-world courtroom time
Trying cases of increasing difficulty
Learning and demonstrating effective trial advocacy techniques

Students who participate in the Prosecution Clinic will:

Understand the substantive and procedural laws and rules that guide criminal prosecution
Exercise proper professional and ethical responsibilities to victims, defendants and the legal system as a whole
Engage in legal analysis and reasoning in assigned criminal cases
Critically evaluate evidence
Interview victims and witness and ethically and appropriately prepare them for trial
Present and admit evidence in court
Conduct all aspects of bench trials and jury trials including presenting effective opening statements, conducting direct and cross examinations and arguing your case effectively and ethically in closing arguments
Apply constructive feedback and instructions from supervising attorneys and clinic faculty

Students must work a minimum of 260 hours during the semester with their assigned agency.

Students must attend evening class sessions – Throughout the semester there are 13 2-hour class sessions that are held once or twice per week.
Fall or Spring Semester – Minimum of 20 hours per week with agency. Students must be available to work full days on Tuesday and Thursday, plus one additional half-day during the week.
Summer Semester - Students will work full-time, Monday through Friday, and classes are usually held two times per week due to the shortened semester.

The Prosecution Clinic is a one-semester course.

Credits: six credits (three graded and three pass/fail)
Pre-Requisite: Evidence
Pre- or Co-Requisite(s): Civil Procedure, Criminal Law and Professional Responsibility

Note: Trial Advocacy may not be taken the same semester as this clinic

Clinic application deadlines

Students may apply via Atlas during the application period listed below.

**IMPORTANT!** - Externships and Clinics – Students who have applied for an externship or clinic and been accepted may decline upon offer without consequence. However, once a student has accepted an externship or clinic, any student who drops the externship or clinic without prior approval by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will be subject to the 12-month ban.

Clinic leadership

Ken Vick

Prosecution Clinic Director; Faculty Associate

Hear from our students

Kelly Hynek

Prosecution Clinic student

"While some law school programs, extracurriculars and accolades are guilty of providing little more than resume padding once completed, clinics stand apart by not only making you look like a better lawyer, but by making you a better lawyer. Even though I have completed multiple internships outside of the clinic setting, the added value of the clinic was immense. Instead of being relegated to legal research projects, I was empowered to participate in litigation and develop my own voice in the courtroom. I was given real responsibility along with specific guidance that went well beyond what any of my other courses could provide. My clinic experience allowed me to shake out any nerves I had about appearing in court and reassured me that I have what it takes to be a great litigator."

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Experiential learning for practical skills in criminal prosecution

Objectives

Learning outcomes

Time commitments