The certificate program was created as part of the law school's effort to provide students with broad and deep exposure to criminal law and policy law, as well as to help students prepare for practice in the field. The certificate is awarded upon successful completion of several criminal law and policy related courses, a substantial research paper on a criminal law and policy related topic, and two substantial practice experiences.
Criminal Law and Policy Certificate Requirements
To qualify for the Criminal Law and Policy Certificate students are required to complete four foundation courses, one advanced course, a writing requirement and two substantial practice experiences. Students also may petition the Criminal Law Certificate faculty supervisors for certificate credit in Criminal Law related courses and activities which are not explicitly listed.
Practice Experience Requirement
Two substantial practice experiences are required. Students must complete one of the options in Paragraph 1 and one of the options in Paragraph 2 as described below.
Must complete one of the following:
•The Administration of Criminal Justice Externship, or another School of Law externship with a placement or agency with a criminal justice focus (e.g.,a Tax Law Externship with a placement in the criminal tax office of a government agency) for at least 3 credits, or
•The Immigration Law, Prison Law, Family Protection, Civil Rights, Aoki Federal Defender, or Aoki Federal Amicus Clinic for at least 3 credits, or
•Another criminal justice-related internship or externship earning at least 3 credits, approved by the Committee.
And, complete at least one of the following:
•The Administration of Criminal Justice Externship or another School of Law externship with a criminal justice focus for at least 3 credits (or for a total of at least 6 credits if an externship was used to satisfy the requirement listed above), or
•A summer or school-year practice experience with a prosecution or defense agency (local, state, federal, tribal, military), a legislative or policy office, or a clerkship in a court with criminal jurisdiction (240 hours). With approval of the Committee, this requirement may be satisfied though work at more than one agency. Summer work for a public or non-profit agency for which a student is paid or receives a stipend may satisfy this requirement. Students should maintain records of their hours, request written certification from the agency and/or supervising attorney and will be required to supply certifications to the Law Registrar’s Office.
Writing Requirement
Students must write a writing-requirement-quality paper, approved by one of the Criminal Law and Policy Faculty on a criminal law and policy related topic through a course, seminar, independent study, or law journal. The paper should develop and defend a thesis and demonstrate original thought and analysis. A purely descriptive paper would not satisfy this requirement. The final written work would have to receive at least a B grade, or, if ungraded, be deemed by the Committee to be of equivalent quality.
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