COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
3 credit hours
COURSE NUMBER: LAW 6930-01
Professor: Diane Courselle
Credit Hours & Type of Credit: 3
Semester(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer
Elective
Prerequisites: Professional Responsibility. Course is open to third year students only.
Recommended Courses: Criminal Adjudication; Criminal Procedure
Course Overview:
The Defender Aid Program provides representation to indigent persons convicted of felonies in the Wyoming state courts. We represent clients on direct appeal from their convictions, prepare motions for sentence reduction, and may handle other post-conviction matters in state and federal court.
The program has two purposes: first, to give Student Attorneys practical experience in the area of criminal law, and second, to assist indigent people in the state of Wyoming with the highest quality legal services and representation in the area of criminal law. This means providing not just the minimal effective assistance of counsel, but zealous advocacy within the bounds of the law. Ideally, these two purposes can be achieved harmoniously; however, at all times the client’s interests are paramount.
Course Materials: Defender Aid Manual
Course Format: Clinical program. Students are required to put in at least one hundred fifty hours per semester to obtain clinic credit. This includes one-two hours per week of classroom instruction on procedural and substantive matters related to representation, three hours per week of office hours, and whatever time is necessary to fulfill your obligations in the actual representation of clients.
Written Assignments: May include client letters, motions, briefs, and other post-conviction petitions and pleadings.
Type of Exam: N/A
Basis for Grading Student Performance: Pass/Fail. Students are expected to perform 150 hours of coursework and to perform assigned casework in a competent and timely fashion.
Other Comments: