The Northern California Innocence Project (NCIP) is a law school clinical program providing a unique educational opportunity for law students to investigate possible wrongful convictions and represent imprisoned clients with viable claims of actual innocence. Supervised by experienced legal and forensic staff, NCIP law students evaluate innocence claims by reviewing case histories, appellate briefs, transcripts, medical records, and other documents. Students participate directly in the investigative process by interviewing prisoners, witnesses, crime lab personnel, law enforcement, defense attorneys and prosecutors to help prove claims of innocence. Beyond investigating their cases and interviewing witnesses, NCIP students draft legal documents such as motions, declarations, briefs, legal memoranda and letters to attorneys, clients and others. Students also attend and participate in court proceedings. NCIP students must attend an intensive two day training session known as "NCIP Boot Camp" and attend classes twice weekly which focus on post-conviction law and issues relevant to wrongful conviction. Class topics include federal and state habeas corpus procedures, post-conviction DNA testing laws, investigation techniques, witness interview strategies, and the science of DNA testing. For every 50 hours of participation in the program including casework and class attendance, a student earns one unit. The first 3 units of academic credit earned at NCIP are graded. Any earned units above 3 are graded credit/no credit.

Certificate(s):  Public Interest and Social Justice Law Certificate (List A)

Students who have completed one semester of NCIP (505) are eligible to enroll in Advanced NCIP (515). Advanced NCIP classes provide opportunities to research and discuss in-depth the specific issues relevant to promising cases. Students read about and attend guest lectures on specific disciplines related to wrongful convictions. Advanced NCIP students engage in more specialized writing projects such as motions for post-conviction DNA testing and petitions for writs of habeas corpus. Advanced NCIP students continue to advance their individual cases, allowing them to develop cases more fully and employ what they have already learned. In addition, students frequently have the opportunity to tour a local crime lab and/or coroner's office and conduct legal interviews with prison inmates. Finally, Advanced NCIP students may also review other California cases that have resulted in exonerations and develop strategies to advocate for reforms of our criminal justice system in order to prevent wrongful convictions in the future. The first 3 units of academic credit earned at Advanced NCIP are graded. Any earned units above 3 are graded credit/no credit.

Certificate(s):  Public Interest and Social Justice Law Certificate (List A)

Students who have completed one semester of NCIP (505) are eligible to enroll in Advanced NCIP (515). Advanced NCIP classes provide opportunities to research and discuss in-depth the specific issues relevant to promising cases. Students read about and attend guest lectures on specific disciplines related to wrongful convictions. Advanced NCIP students engage in more specialized writing projects such as motions for post-conviction DNA testing and petitions for writs of habeas corpus. Advanced NCIP students continue to advance their individual cases, allowing them to develop cases more fully and employ what they have already learned. In addition, students frequently have the opportunity to tour a local crime lab and/or coroner's office and conduct legal interviews with prison inmates. Finally, Advanced NCIP students may also review other California cases that have resulted in exonerations and develop strategies to advocate for reforms of our criminal justice system in order to prevent wrongful convictions in the future. The first 3 units of academic credit earned at Advanced NCIP are graded. Any earned units above 3 are graded credit/no credit.

Certificate(s):  Public Interest and Social Justice Law Certificate (List A)

The Northern California Innocence Project (NCIP) is a law school clinical program providing a unique educational opportunity for law students to investigate possible wrongful convictions and represent imprisoned clients with viable claims of actual innocence. Supervised by experienced legal and forensic staff, NCIP law students evaluate innocence claims by reviewing case histories, appellate briefs, transcripts, medical records, and other documents. Students participate directly in the investigative process by interviewing prisoners, witnesses, crime lab personnel, law enforcement, defense attorneys and prosecutors to help prove claims of innocence. Beyond investigating their cases and interviewing witnesses, NCIP students draft legal documents such as motions, declarations, briefs, legal memoranda and letters to attorneys, clients and others. Students also attend and participate in court proceedings. NCIP students must attend an intensive two day training session known as "NCIP Boot Camp" and attend classes twice weekly which focus on post-conviction law and issues relevant to wrongful conviction. Class topics include federal and state habeas corpus procedures, post-conviction DNA testing laws, investigation techniques, witness interview strategies, and the science of DNA testing. For every 50 hours of participation in the program including casework and class attendance, a student earns one unit. The first 3 units of academic credit earned at NCIP are graded. Any earned units above 3 are graded credit/no credit.

Certificate(s):  Public Interest and Social Justice Law Certificate (List A)