Stanford Prosecution Clinic

In partnership with the County of Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office and Stanford Law School, the Criminal Prosecution Clinic allows students to see the criminal justice system at work – not just by observing, but by prosecuting real cases themselves. The Criminal Prosecution Clinic is a one-quarter course offered in the Winter Quarter (January –March), which provides six eligible Stanford students with a rigorous and intensive exposure to criminal prosecution practice through a combination of actual trial practice and classroom work. Each of the six students are rotated through three divisions of the office. This allows the student exposure to misdemeanor and felony cases.

Students are given a docket of cases for which they are responsible. Under the supervision of deputy district attorneys, the students handle a variety of felony motions and conduct preliminary hearings. In addition, students have many opportunities to evaluate different styles of lawyering by watching criminal trial lawyers in action. To supplement and refine their practice experience, students attend a weekly class led by Professor George Fisher in which they discuss their pending cases and what they have encountered in court. Stanford students interested in participating in this class, should go to Criminal Prosecution Clinic for details.