Ex. Federal Defenders of New York

This externship provides an introduction to the practice of indigent criminal defense in federal court. In the placement component, students will work with attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and investigators at the Federal Defenders of New York to represent individuals charged with federal crimes in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Students may draft motions for early termination of supervised release and sentencing memoranda, interview clients, compile mitigation material, and present oral argument in court (to the extent permissible). The seminar component will meet weekly to discuss relevant federal criminal law and procedure, litigation techniques, and what it means to conduct client-centered advocacy. Students will present their work in workshop and moot court formats, and guest speakers will offer perspectives from the bench and prosecution.

1. Students should expect to acquire an introductory experience-based understanding of the substantive law and practice of federal criminal sentencing from the federal defender perspective, i.e., advocating on behalf of indigent defendants in federal court.

2. Students should expect to acquire an introductory experience-based understanding of the substantive law and practice governing motions by indigent defendants to seek early termination of their term of federal supervised release.

3. Students should expect to acquire an introductory experience-based understanding of federal criminal mitigation practice and holistic defense.

4. Students should expect an opportunity for substantial improvement on their written and oral advocacy; the externship will involve at least two written motions that will be filed in federal district court, as well as multiple opportunities for moot (and possible real) oral argument.