Holistic Youth Defense Clinic

LAW8669
Section 1, Fall 25

Schedule Information

Enrollment: 6/6
Credits: 5
Days Time Room Start Date End Date

Tue

,

Thu

 		1410-1530 WB104A 08/26/2025 12/02/2025

Course Description

The Holistic Youth Defense Clinic provides students an opportunity to practice holistic and zealous lawyering by representing youth clients on delinquency matters, as well as related school discipline and special education matters, in order to help keep youth in their homes, schools and communities with appropriate supports. Students will represent indigent youth clients on felony and misdemeanor delinquency cases, special education matters and school discipline hearings under close faculty supervision. Enrolled clinic students will hone their practical skills while integrating their knowledge of substantive law. Students will engage in discovery practice, interview clients and witnesses, brainstorm case strategy, conduct legal research and fact investigation, draft pleadings and work product, prepare clients and witnesses for trial, negotiate with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, discuss plea offers with clients, and counsel clients. Students with third-year practice certificates will represent clients at hearings and trials. In addition, clinic students will critically examine the purpose, motives, outcomes, and shortcomings of the juvenile legal system. They will analyze broader systemic issues, examine how legal systems impact the clients they serve and reflect upon opportunities for reform. Students will learn to provide holistic client-centered and client-driven representation.

Course Requirements

Exam Information

Final Type (if any): None

Description: None

Written Work Product

Written work product will depend on the specific cases to which students are assigned, but may include drafting memoranda following client and witness interviews, conducting legal research and analysis, drafting motions, memoranda, and pleadings, and drafting client correspondence and transition memos.

Other Course Details

Prerequisites: (Civil Procedure (6000)) AND (Criminal Law (6003)) Evidence and Prof. Responsibility are REQUIRED prerequisites only for 3Ls who wish to appear in court with a 3L practice certificate. Moreover, because the credits in this course count toward the JD Program Professional Skills requirement, JD candidates will be given enrollment priority for this class. Concurrencies: Evidence, Prof. Responsibility, Trial Advocacy, Criminal Investigation, Criminal Adjudication, and/or Criminal Procedure Survey all recommended, but not required as pre- or co-requisites (except PR and Evidence are required for 3Ls who wish to appear in court with a 3L Practice Certificate)..

Exclusive With: Students who have or are enrolled in another clinic must obtain permission from the Director of Clinics to participate in this clinic to avoid conflicts of interest.

Laptops Allowed: Yes

First Day Attendance Required: Yes

Course Resources: To be announced via Canvas.

Course Notes: NOTE REGARDING ENROLLMENT: the enrollment process is described at https://www.law.virginia.edu/clinics/faqs-about-clinics#howenroll. If seats are available in this clinic after the lottery process, students can request enrollment via https://virginia.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8AoAfjpGKKmaHxc. If a student seeking a seat in this class is enrolled in another clinic, enrollment authorization from the instructors from both clinics must be provided to the Student Records Office via email ([email protected]). NOTE REGARDING AVAILABILITY: Delinquency cases are primarily in Albemarle and Charlottesville Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. The Albemarle delinquency docket is on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (starting at 9:00 am) and the Charlottesville delinquency docket is on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month (starting at 9:00 am). Students enrolled in this clinic must plan their course schedules so that they are available to appear in court with their clients.

Graduation Requirements

Satisfies Understanding Bias/Racism/Cross-Cultural Competency requirement: Yes

Satisfies Writing Requirement: No

Credits For Prof. Skills Requirement: Yes

Satisfies Professional Ethics: No

Additional Course Information

Schedule No.: 125818986

Modified Type: Clinical

Cross Listed: No

Waitlist Count: 0

Concentrations: Criminal Justice , Family, Gender and Sexuality , Litigation and Dispute Resolution , Public Service and Leadership

Evaluation Portal Via LawWeb Opens: Sunday, November 23, 12:01 AM

Evaluation Portal Via LawWeb Closes: Friday, December 05, 11:59 PM

Information reflected on this page was last refreshed at: Tuesday, July 08, 2025 - 7:02 AM *

*During open enrollment periods, live enrollment data may be found in SIS.