NCIP student Danny Wall examines a witness at Larry Pohlschneider “actual innocence” hearing at the Tehama County courthouse in Red Bluff, CA.
Source: Kelley Fleming
Sixteen Santa Clara University law students joined the NCIP team this fall as classmates in NCIP’s year-long clinical course. In addition to attending seminars twice-a-week, NCIP students heard from a number of guest speakers and participated in a wide variety of case-related activities. Guest speakers included Equal Justice Initiative Executive Director, Bryan Stevenson, and Santa Clara County Supervising Criminalist, Jocelyn Weart. Students accompanied their supervising attorneys and professional investigators on trips to conduct prison interviews, in-field investigation, and court hearings. Of particular excitement, NCIP students Leah Collins, Danny Wall, Thomas Levine and Courtney Eggleston helped with preparation for the Larry Pohlschneider actual innocence hearing and even examined witnesses in court as State Bar Certified Law Clerks.
All of the NCIP students were challenged to see the criminal justice system through a variety of different lenses and to learn the ways the system functions –and malfunctions – in our cases. We are grateful to have their perspectives, their enthusiasm, and their labor, for the next semester.
Equal Justice Initiative Executive Director Bryan Stevenson talks with NCIP Student Francisco Lozano at Santa Clara University’s President’s Speaker Series.
Source: Joanne Lee
NCIP student Leah Collins provides her perspective on how her experience at NCIP has begun to shape her legal career:
“The Northern California Innocence Project’s mission statement is ‘to promote a fair, effective, and compassionate criminal justice system, and to protect the rights of the innocent.’ However, that mission statement should be expanded to include ‘…and challenge our future lawyers to think critically yet objectively, manage and maintain real casework, and provide the education necessary to encourage change to the justice system.’
Through my experience at NCIP, I have received hands-on case work experience in a way that I never would have received in a classroom. I was given the opportunity to enhance my legal skills in an entirely practical and meaningful manner. NCIP provided me with a lot of my ‘firsts’ in my legal career: my first prison visit, my first time direct examining witnesses at a hearing, and my first time writing briefs that were actually utilized and filed with the court. My supervising attorney was there to direct me every step of the way, but at the same time she allowed me to stand on my own two feet and have these experiences in a comfortable setting. It was the type of instruction and learning experience that I never would have received in a classroom setting.
Most importantly, though, NCIP has taught me the most vital aspects that I believe are crucial for a good attorney: maintaining an open mind, and learning how to connect with, and work with, the clients and the people involved in the case. Though reading books in class is great for learning substantive law, a book does not provide the practical lessons that every student needs for the development of their career. I was lucky enough to have my learning experience start while a 3L. NCIP has played an important role in the foundation of my legal career.”
