Criminal Law, Justice & Policy

The concentration in Criminal Law, Justice and Policy is designed for students who plan to practice criminal law as a prosecutor or defense attorney or to work at a policy level by advising legislatures on criminal justice reform measures. Students must have a minimum grade of 2.33 in each graded course used to earn this concentration. The courses provide in-depth exposure to all aspects of criminal law and procedure, with an emphasis on both skills and policy. Experiential learning is an important part of this concentration.

A student seeking a substitution should consult with faculty advisor Prof. Malinda Seymore.

To earn the Criminal Law Concentration, students must complete the following required and elective courses:

Core courses (​all are required)*

• Criminal Procedure (3)
• Criminal Procedure Trial Rights (3)
• Evidence (4)
• Trial Advocacy Practicum (3)
• One of either:
      ADR Survey: Negotiation, Mediation & Arbitration (3)
      Negotiation Theory & Practice Practicum (3)

Elective courses (at least two required)

• Advanced Issues in Criminal Justice Seminar (2 or 3)**
• Courthouse Perspectives (1)
• Death Penalty Seminar (2)
• Domestic Violence Seminar (2)
• Ethics for the Criminal Law Practitioner (1 or 2)
• Immigration Law (3)
• Juvenile Justice (2)
• LARW III: Appellate Drafting (2)
• LARW III: Criminal Procedure (2)
• LARW III:  Public Policy Drafting (2)
• Law & Psychology Seminar (2)
• National Security Law (3)
• Post-Conviction Actual Innocence Claims (2)
• Race & the Law Seminar (2)
• Scientific Criminal Evidence Workshop (1)
• Seminar on Criminal Justice Scholars and Advocates (2)
• Sentencing Law and Policy Seminar (2)
• Texas Criminal Law Practicum (2)
• Texas Criminal Procedure (3)
• White Collar Crime (3)
• Other courses that may be designated as satisfying this requirement (1/2/3)

Experiential Learning courses (at least one required)

• Innocence Clinic (2)
• Externship in a prosecutor’s office, public defender/criminal defense counsel office or court with a criminal docket (2)
• Other Criminal Law clinics (2)

Notes:
* Note that some of these courses are courses generally required for the J.D. degree. Completion satisfies both the J.D. degree and the Criminal Law, Justice & Policy Concentration.
** This course can be taken either as a 3 unit elective or a 2 unit seminar, but not as both.