Clinic: Second Chances for Youth

4 Credit Hours

This clinic section, which is part of the Children and Family Justice Center, will focus on direct representation of children and young adults in the Illinois criminal legal system, especially those seeking reconsideration of extreme sentences. Students will represent clients in both court proceedings and executive clemency/parole proceedings and will have the opportunity to develop traditional courtroom skills as well as skills related to negotiation, investigation, discovery, witness preparation, client counseling and written advocacy. Additionally, students can expect readings and discussions exploring the structural forces and trends behind the law in this area as well as social science research regarding adolescent development, public health approaches to violence, the benefits of holistic representation, and restorative justice practices. Class sessions for this clinic section will be held jointly with Prof. Mahadev and Kollmann’s sections.