The Criminal Clinic at the University of Nebraska College of Law is one of the few prosecution clinics in the country. As such, students get first-hand experience with and invaluable insight into how the government puts together a criminal case – from initial charging decisions to ultimate case resolution. After the initial training seminars, students spend the remainder of the semester working at the local prosecutor’s office where they prosecute misdemeanor and low-grade felony cases under the direct supervision of the faculty instructor. Students are responsible for every aspect of their assigned cases and appear numerous times in court to conduct hearings on those cases. Additionally, every student conducts initial arraignments (first appearances) for misdemeanor, traffic and felony offenses.
Randi Meyer
Class of 2016 | ALDA, NE
Working as a student attorney with the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office was one of my most rewarding law school experiences. Criminal clinic provided the opportunity to apply my classroom legal education to practical trial skills. After making the decision to focus on a litigation track, I knew I wanted to participate in criminal clinic to cultivate and hone my trial skills through the guidance of Professor Schmidt. Clinic provided the real world environment for me to develop skills that I will use everyday in my career and I would highly encourage students to participate.