Criminal Defense Clinic
The Criminal Defense Clinic empowers students to provide exemplary representation to clients facing criminal prosecution and to pursue equal justice through systemic and courtroom advocacy.
Students regularly appear in criminal court and work closely with clinic supervisors to strategize and prepare. Through weekly seminar sessions, individual supervision meetings, and trial team collaboration, student-advocates gain experience in high quality client representation and trial preparation.
As lead counsel, students build and utilize skills in client interaction, case planning and investigation, negotiation, and trial advocacy to vindicate the rights of their individual clients. Clinic students contextualize their casework through study of local, national, and historical data on incarceration, misdemeanor enforcement, and plea bargaining.
Working with the Criminal Defense Clinic, Taylor Dempsey JD '25 faced a challenge: representing a client with a long history of offenses rooted in mental health struggles, substance use disorder, and chronic homelessness. Beyond courtroom advocacy, Taylor connected the client with critical behavioral health, housing, and employment services — helping stabilize his life and prevent further charges. This holistic approach transformed the client’s future and left a lasting impact on Taylor’s view of justice.
“When I called and told him he was connected to those services, he sobbed and told me I was his angel," Taylor said, reflecting on the experience. "The clinic taught me how to identify the economic, behavioral health, and systemic issues that push clients into the criminal legal system and then use my unique skills as a soon-to-be lawyer to address those. It has shown me the pinnacle of public defense — what it can be when you have the time, the support, and the resources to throw everything against the wall for a client.”
Law in Action: The Clinic Experience
Clinical Professor Elana Fogel, inaugural director of the Duke Criminal Defense Clinic, talks about the clinic's work, how students get involved, the skills that students learn, and her favorite part about leading the clinic.
The clinic empowers students to defend clients facing criminal charges in court and fight systemic disparity and injustice in the criminal system.
Clinic Faculty
Lauren Fine
Assistant Clinical Professor of Law
Supervising Attorney, Criminal Defense Clinic919-660-3989