In this clip, Doug Cuthebertson talks about his work in the clinic and closes with the observation that the Criminal Defense Clinic will be a valuable experience, regardless of whether he chooses to practice criminal law. This is another insightful point from Doug. Although there is more specialization in law school than there used to be, clinical legal education and legal education overall still aims to graduate lawyers who can go in any number of directions after law school, rather than lawyers with very specific kinds of expertise. As a clinical teacher, my goal is to offer an experience that will teach my students broadly applicable lessons about the law and lawyering, through the criminal defense clinic.
Here Doug Cuthbertson also talks about how we come to represent our clients. As he notes, we work with New York County Defender Services, one of the two trial level public defender groups in Manhattan. As Doug notes, our clients don't get the initial say in whether we, or a lawyer from County Defender, first interviews them, but of course if a client does not consent to student representation, he or she would be represented by a lawyer from the County Defender or another licensed attorney, rather than a student permitted to practice under supervision. I have been involved in clinical legal education for more than twenty years and I can count the clients who have refused student representation on one hand. I think most people are impressed by how prepared the students are and appreciate that my students and I are going to work hard on their behalf.
-- Ian Weinstein
Fordham, Law School, Clinical Legal Education, Law Clinic, Pro Bono Work, Legal Education, Legal Pedagogy, Teaching Law, Student Lawyers, Law Student
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