Criminal Practice Seminar

Catalog description

This seminar is an in-depth study of selected aspects of criminal practice, both skills and substantive. Topics covered include client counseling, investigation and discovery, drafting and arguing motions, competency to stand trial, the insanity defense, expert witnesses, case strategy, and state and federal post-conviction proceedings. The capstone project involves a partnership with the Tulane Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry, in which students consult with a forensic psychiatry fellow, prepare them to testify, and then direct and cross a fellow during a mock competency to stand trial hearing held at the courthouse. This course is geared towards those considering careers in criminal law, whether as prosecutors or defense attorneys. Enrollment is limited to students participating in the Criminal Justice Clinic.