The Post-Conviction Clinic
by Oscar Medellin ('06)
[omedelli@usc.edu]

1. Overview

The clinic provides legal services to prisoners in need of representation in post-conviction matters. What this means is the clinic only represents clients who have had a criminal trial, were convicted, and have exhausted all their available state appeals. Post-conviction legal issues can range from parole hearings to state and federal habeas petition relief. Two Supervising Attorneys oversee the clinic, Professors Carrie Hempel and Mike Brennan.

2. Certification

In order to represent clients, students will undergo a certification process from the California State Bar to work as Certified Student Attorneys. As part of this certification, students will participate in clinic training seminars, which include overviews in Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Trial Advocacy, and Evidence. Students may find it useful during the Fall and Spring semesters of the clinic to enroll in an Evidence or Criminal Procedure class for a better understanding of this area of the law.

3. Supervisor Position

The Supervisor position is a paid summer position with the clinic, which includes a two-semester commitment during the 2L year. Summer supervisors will receive relevant legal training and will be assigned a number of clients for the summer. It is very likely that you will even represent a client in a legal matter during your first summer.

The position provides a lot of opportunities for valuable legal experience in one’s early legal education. Students will meet one on one with clients, conduct interviews, and do intake for prospective clients of the clinic. Students will also have the opportunity to represent a client in a parole hearing and prepare a habeas petition in their first summer. You will also continue to hone your legal research and writing skills in preparing work for clients, and develop crucial client interaction skills as well.

Perhaps the most important thing about the supervisor position is the amount of responsibility that students are charged with. In essence, you are an actual attorney. All the obligations of the attorney-client relationship apply to you, and you will be expected to represent your clients to the best of your ability. Clients depend on you and place a great deal of trust in your representation. I can’t imagine another first-year summer job that gives you this kind of experience.

4. How do you get in?

Interviews begin in the spring semester. Students will undergo a first and second round of interviews. During the first round, the applicant interviews with a panel of current clinic supervisors (i.e., 2Ls). The final round of interviews is with the clinic Supervising Attorneys.

What does the clinic look for in prospective applicants? Most importantly, the clinic looks for students who are genuinely interested in the field of criminal law. The student should be able to manage a great deal of responsibility and be able to work independently when necessary. In addition, the applicant should have good writing and research skills. Good interpersonal skills are just as important since you will be dealing with clients on a frequent basis.

My advice is that if you really want to be a summer supervisor, you have to convey your interests in your interviews. You should be able to point out how your particular skills make you a good fit for the position. If you have career experiences within the field of criminal law, then you should draw on those experiences as well. If you have chosen criminal defense as a career or are contemplating it, then talk about that.

5. What if I can’t get into the summer program?

If you are unable to work as a summer supervisor, but are still interested in the clinic experience, you have the option of signing up for the clinic in the fall semester before your 2L year. The commitment is two semesters. Students who sign up take a seminar class in the fall alongside the clinic supervisors for course credit. In the spring, they receive a grade for their work. Students will undergo the same training as summer supervisors and represent clients as well.

Seats are limited for the fall and spring. Interested students should speak to one of the supervising attorneys prior to registration to find out how they can enroll in the clinic.

Feel free to contact Oscar at omedeilli@usc.edu or Sylvia Hwang ('07) at sylviahw@usc.edu for more information about the clinic.