Innocence Initiative Clinic

5 Credit Hours

Overseeing Professors:
Cynthia Batt, Associate Professor
[email protected]

Judith A.M. Scully, Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law
[email protected]

Adjunct Professor:
Lily McCarty, Esq.


Program Description:
Student will have the opportunity to work closely with supervising pro bono attorneys on investigating the cases of individuals who assert that they have been wrongfully convicted.  The cases that the students work on are provided by the Innocence Project of Florida in Tallahassee. 

By conducting investigations, students will complete a variety of tasks including working with investigators, interviewing witnesses, reading trial and appellate transcripts, and conducting legal research on a variety of issues related to post-conviction matters.  

This clinic will include a classroom component that will focus on the causes of wrongful convictions, as well as a variety of legal issues that may arise in drafting Motions for Post-Conviction Relief.  In addition, each student will be responsible for making a presentation to the Education Division of Stetson's Innocence Initiative about some aspect of wrongful convictions. *Please note: Faculty approval of this clinic as fulfilling the skills requirement is pending.

Placement Locations:
• Stetson

Program Requirements:
• 200 hours per semester;
• Weekly classroom component;
• Weekly case review sessions;
• Detailed weekly report and timesheets; and
• Electronic journal entries (minimum of five).

Eligibility Requirements:
• Successful completion of all first year courses;
• Be in good academic standing;
• Successful completion of Professional Responsibility and Federal Criminal Procedure (Florida Criminal Procedure does not suffice);
• Evidence is recommended but not required; and
• Students must have completed 20 hours of pro bono work in the Innocence Initiative.

Application Requirements:
• Submit a completed application by the appropriate deadline (for more information, see www.law.stetson.edu/clinics); and
• Timely submit additional documentation as required for this program. (Students are notified of additional requirements after applying and being provisionally placed in the program.)