Legal Clinics

Prosecution Assistance Program

Student Clinic Director: Matthew Riekens

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Matthew Riekens is a dual JD and Master of Public Administration candidate. Matthew spent his childhood outside Dayton, Ohio, before receiving a prestigious appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Matthew’s time at the Academy was short-lived, however, as he was medically discharged from the Army after sustaining severe injuries in a series of training accidents. Despite this setback, Matthew’s time at the Academy only deepened his commitment to serving the community.

Afterwards, Matthew earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science at the University of Michigan, where he helped operate and manage some of the most expensive U.S. House of Representatives campaigns in the nation. Matthew says he chose the University of Wyoming College of Law because of the school’s clinic guarantee and dual degree programs.

During his first two summers, Matthew worked for two different Rocky Mountain region prosecutors. He spent his first summer working for County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich in Sublette County, Wyoming, where he successfully second-chaired Sublette County’s first felony jury trial in more than five years. Matthew spent his second summer in Colorado’s busiest judicial district, Colorado Springs, where he handled 40 to 60 cases every day and shared responsibility for a docket with over 500 active cases. In Colorado Springs, Matthew also had the opportunity to try numerous misdemeanor and traffic cases, often receiving favorable verdicts.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to carry on the legacy of the Prosecution Assistance Program through the clinic’s work with prosecutors across the state,” says Matthew. Notably, he revived the summer internship program between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Prosecution Clinic, placing four high-achieving students in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the state. As student director, he says his goal is to continue developing strong relationships with local and federal prosecutors to create opportunities for clinic students to gain hands-on experience and secure job offers from their work.

 

Contact the Prosecution Assistance Program

Email: wyopros@uwyo.edu

Phone: 307-766-3193