CRIMINAL DEFENSE CLINIC
SYLLABUS
Professor Yvonne Q. Taylor
yvonne@yvonnetaylorlawfirm.com
Office Hours By Appointment Only
Course Prerequisites: Evidence
Textbook: O’Connor’s Criminal Procedure Plus 2015-2016
Exam: None
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students in the Criminal Defense Clinic will represent defendants in misdemeanor
cases. The Clinic selects misdemeanor cases with a high probability of going to trial
which increases the likelihood of each student serving as lead attorney.
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
The Criminal Defense Clinic will provide students with a wide range of hands-on
experience.
1.
Students will have direct responsibility for clients and cases in a realistic practice
setting.
2.
Students will experience the real consequences of working with actual clients.
3.
Clinical experiences will be supplemented by classroom sessions.
4.
Students will benefit from the unique union of hands-on experience and classroom
instruction where students and faculty explore doctrinal, practice and policy
complexities and subtleties.
CLINIC WORK
Students will be exposed to and be responsible for a wide range of direct client
representation, including:
1.
Engaging in factual investigations and legal research;
2.
Interviewing witnesses and defendants;
3.
Participating in plea negotiations and arguing motions.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT
Pursuant to UH Law policy, you must attend at least 11 of the 14 regularly scheduled
classes (80%). Class will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:00p – 7:40p.
GRADING
This course is pass/fail. Grading is based on meaningful participation and trial
performance.
CLASS SCHEDULE*
DATE
ASSIGNMENT
LEARNING OUTCOME
ASSESSMENT
Week 1
Ethics
Understanding the
role of defense attorney
Discussion; Cases
in the news
Week 2
Race and the Crimi- Understand comnal Justice System plexity of criminal
law and race;
Analysis of Ferguson Report
Week 3
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Case Selections
Courtroom Etiquette
Week 4
Court Appearance;
Plea Negotiations
Witnesses and
evidence
Analysis of offense
report and crime
scene
Week 5
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Tell your client's
story
Client Interview
Week 6
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Understand Jury
Charge
Conduct Voir Dire
Week 7
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Questioning a witness
Conduct Direct Examination
Week 8
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Present your theory
on cross
Conduct Cross Examination
Week 9
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Present your theory
in opening statement
Conduct Opening
Statement
Week 10
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Present your theory
in closing argument
Conduct Closing Argument
Week 11
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Creating Reasonable Doubt
Conduct Mock Trial
Week 12
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Creating Reasonable Doubt
Conduct Mock Trial
Week 13
Court Appearance;
Trial Advocacy
Trial
Trial
DATE
ASSIGNMENT
LEARNING OUTCOME
ASSESSMENT
Week 14
Exit Interviews
Case Evaluation
Case Closure
*Class lectures are subject to change at my discretion.