Public Defender Clinic
- What we do
This innovative partnership engages students directly in cutting edge constitutional litigation, as well as the most important issues facing public defenders and indigent defense systems today.
Students in the Public Defender Clinic provide appellate representation to indigent individuals facing criminal charges. Most cases are felony preconviction appeals from trial court decisions, such as prosecutor appeals from dismissal or defense interlocutory appeals from adverse evidentiary rulings. Students are responsible for mastering their case files, meeting with clients, strategizing with trial counsel, writing high quality appellate briefs, and presenting oral argument.
- How we work
The Public Defender Clinic works in partnership with local trial-level indigent defense systems throughout Michigan to help fill the growing need for preconviction appellate advocacy. Beyond fulfilling the immediate need for exceptional client representation, the Public Defender Clinic trains new generations of public defenders while exposing students to career opportunities throughout Michigan. In a weekly seminar component, students engage with the legal, ethical, moral, and policy issues surrounding their cases and public defense generally.
MSU College of Law is positioned to become an incubator of great new public defenders and indigent defense innovation.
- Who we help
The Public Defender Clinic exclusively represents indigent individuals facing criminal charges. The caseload is limited. Cases are typically assigned by a Michigan indigent defense system. Please contact us if you have questions.
- In the News
MSU Public Defender Clinic takes unique approach to educating law students (The State News, Apr. 14, 2025)
Laying groundwork for appeals: MSU law clinic will help clear a path even before a conviction (Detroit News, Nov. 5, 2024)
MSU College of Law Opens Public Defender Clinic (MSU College of Law, Aug. 20, 2024)
Public Defender Clinic
Michigan State University College of Law
648 North Shaw Lane
Law College Building, Room 215
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300
517-432-6880
pd@law.msu.edu