Criminal Justice
Virginia boasts the strongest collection of courses and professors
in criminal law and criminal procedure of any law school in the
country. The program in criminal justice provides a coordinated
set of courses and seminars that prepares students for careers
in criminal prosecution or defense. The breadth of offerings
in the area of criminal procedure and criminal law has no equal.
For criminal procedure, the many federal constitutional limitations
applicable to the investigation of crime and the adjudication
of guilt or innocence are thoroughly covered in two separate
introductory courses that are offered in several sections so
that students will have ample opportunities to prepare for the
advanced offerings in criminal procedure. A separate course devoted
to the military's criminal justice system is offered in conjunction
with the Army's Judge Advocate General School, which is adjacent
to the Law School.
Students who wish a more in-depth understanding of the criminal
justice system can choose from a variety of small seminars focusing
on criminal practice in both state and federal courts. These
seminars have different points of emphasis, but all go beyond
legal doctrines to expose the student to the practical and strategic
considerations bearing on the prosecution or defense of criminal
charges. Students can also choose from a variety of immensely
popular clinical offerings providing students with real-world
experience in various aspects of criminal practice. In clinics,
students have the opportunity either to prosecute or defend actual
criminal cases in Virginia state court under the direction of
their course instructor and cooperating local prosecutors and
defense attorneys in Charlottesville. Students with interests
in particular types of criminal cases can take clinics in their
areas of interest, such as death penalty cases or prosecutions
involving insanity defenses or other mental health issues.
These opportunities for exhaustive study of the procedural aspects
of the criminal justice system are complemented by a diverse
array of courses covering substantive criminal law. Survey courses
that begin in the very first semester of law school introduce
students to the structure, theoretical foundations, and political
economy of criminal law. These themes are pursued in depth in
other courses focusing on state criminal law, federal criminal
law, and international criminal law. Specialized courses cover
particular aspects of criminal law, such as white collar crime,
criminology, and the law of federal sentencing. Related issues
important to mastering criminal law can be explored further in
a variety of small seminars in which core issues of law and policy
are discussed. Students also have the opportunity for clinical
training in various areas, including, for example, juvenile and
mental health law. After completing the program in criminal justice,
students have a strong foundation for prosecuting and defending
criminal cases.
The program also sponsors events at which guest speakers, faculty,
and students discuss current issues of law and policy relating
to crime, law enforcement, and the role of lawyers in the administration
of criminal justice. In addition, the program offers placement
assistance to students seeking jobs in the criminal justice system.
Interested students are provided detailed information about openings
with state and federal prosecutors' and public defenders' offices
nationwide and can take advantage of established networks of
Virginia graduates practicing criminal law. Virginia graduates
regularly land coveted positions in the U.S. Department of Justice's
Honors Program, U.S. Attorneys' offices, and state prosecutorial
offices across the country.
RELATED CONCENTRATIONS:
CLINICAL OFFERINGS: