Information for Students

Credit: 6 credits each semester—2 for classroom component and 4 for casework—for a total of 12 credit hours for the academic year.

Grading: This course is graded.

Semesters Offered: This is a full-year course. Students are selected for the clinic must register for both fall and spring Semesters.

Description

The Caprock Regional Public Defender Office and Clinic is dedicated to serving the community by representing defendants in criminal cases who would otherwise be unable to afford their own legal representation. The Caprock Regional Public Defender Office and Clinic works to give access to legal counsel and increase the quality of representation provided to indigent citizens accused of crimes. The program is the first of its kind in Texas and is the prototype for representation of indigent clients. Students accepted into this clinic will have the opportunity to represent clients facing felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile offenses in a multi county region. Because the Caprock Regional Public Defender Office and Clinic covers over ten counties, most communication with clients will be by teleconference.

By the end of the course, each student will have represented at least four clients per semester. Students are fully responsible for their cases, from intake through disposition. Students are closely supervised at all stages of their cases by Donnie Yandell, the Chief Public Defender. The classroom component of the clinic focuses on skills development, ethics, and case strategy, and is taught by Professor Patrick S. Metze. Students also have the opportunity to hone their writing skills by drafting a multitude of motions and briefs relating to their cases.

Selection Process

A mandatory information session for students interested in participating in the Clinical Programs is held in late January or early February of each year. Information is provided by the Clinic Directors regarding each individual clinic, as well as the process for student selection. Students interested in applying to one or more clinics are instructed to complete the required documents and application on or before the deadline announced during the information session. Documents to be attached include the clinic application (indicating which clinics you are applying to), resume with references, unofficial transcript, and a two-page narrative (for each individual clinic you are applying to) indicating why you are interested in a particular clinic. All clinics are by invitation only. Applications are reviewed by the Clinic Directors. Some Clinic Directors may conduct interviews (some may not depending on the demand), and offers are made to students by the Clinic Directors with a deadline for you to accept the offer. During open registration, the Registrar's office enrolls you for the clinic. You will not be able to enroll yourself.

Required Prerequisites

• Must be a third year law student.
• Must not be on academic probation. Should a student be placed on academic probation during his or time in the clinic, he or she will be withdrawn from the clinic.
• Must have taken Criminal Procedure, Professional Responsibility and Evidence.

Recommended Prerequisites

• Texas Criminal Procedure, Trial Advocacy, and/or Mock Trial or Moot Court.

Conflicts

• Students may not be concurrently enrolled in this clinic and another clinic or externship.
• Students may not have outside employment if enrolled in this course.
• Students may not sit for the February bar exam.

Enrollment is by application and invitation only.