Courses

College of Law

Clinic: Prosecution Assistance Program

Course Number: 6936
Professor: D. Jackson
Credit Hours & Type of Credit: 3
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Required: No
Prerequisites: Criminal Adjudication and Criminal Procedure
Recommended Courses: N/A

Course Overview: Third-year students can gain practical legal experience in trial and appellate work through the Wyoming Prosecution Assistance Program. The program, founded more than thirty years ago, provides assistance to Wyoming County and Prosecuting Attorneys, to the Wyoming Attorney General's office, and to the United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming in criminal cases and in selected civil cases involving questions of significant public interest.

All students work under the supervision of the faculty director at the law school. The Program is heavily involved with the Wyoming Attorney General's Office, usually in representing the state in criminal appeals before the Wyoming Supreme Court. In handling these appeals, students are responsible for the entire preparation of appellate briefs and the presentation of oral argument to the Supreme Court. Students gain intensive training in appellate advocacy during the brief-editing process and in mock arguments leading up to the students Court appearance. The Program is also heavily involved in working with the twenty-three Wyoming County or Prosecuting Attorneys offices. Recent requests from those offices have included: participation in preliminary hearings on felony charges; participation in criminal trials (principally of misdemeanor charges); the preparation of motions, motion responses, jury instructions, and trial briefs in circuit and district courts; and participation in arraignments and bail hearings.

All of the programs students are expected to devote time to staffing the program office (located at the UW Office Annex). In the office, students field calls from Wyoming County and Prosecuting Attorneys, providing assistance with legal research and the preparation of legal memoranda. The program also includes a classroom component designed to enhance the students understanding of criminal practice and a prosecutors unique ethical obligations. The classroom component focuses on Wyoming criminal law and procedure (including sentencing and restitution) such that each program student will be uniquely familiar with key Wyoming criminal precedent prior to beginning practice. (Note: This will be different than in the past: the classroom component will be much more substantive dealing with Wyoming (and possibly Colorado) substantive criminal law and procedure.) Oftentimes, Wyoming prosecutors, Assistant Attorney Generals, law enforcement agents and others will be invited to address the students.

During the school year, students enroll in the Program for academic credit, earning three hours each semester for working at least 150 hours (and usually much more).

Course Format: Clinical practice and class meetings.
Written Assignments: Assignments will vary from student to student.
Type of Exam: N/A
Basis for Grading Student Performance: Summer 2015 is S/U grade. Beginning Fall 2015 letter grading. Timely performance of assigned clinic projects.
Other Comments:  This course may be used for experiential learning credit.  Requires third year standing. Enrollment is limited to 7 students determined on a first-come, first-served basis by registration. If the registration is oversubscribed additional students will be placed on a waitlist. Completion of Criminal Procedure and Criminal Adjudication prior to enrollment is required.

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, Criminal Procedure and Criminal Adjudication will both be required prerequisites for the Prosecution Assistance Clinic.