Criminal Practice Clinic Director
Kenneth W. Gaines
Professor Emeritus of Law
Learn more about Kenneth
The clinic will afford participating students an opportunity to gain first-hand, closely supervised training and experience in the representation of real clients and the practice of the arts/skills of litigation planning, client counseling, fact development, negotiation and courtroom advocacy. The vehicle for such training and experience is the planning, preparation and presentation of the legal defense in actual cases involving allegations of criminal conduct.
All casework will be done under the supervision of a clinical professor. In addition to the cases there will be assigned readings, lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. Criminal Practice Clinic places emphasis on jury trial practice before the Municipal Court for the City of Columbia.
Participating in the Criminal Practice Clinic was one of the best decisions I made while at Law School. I represented real clients all the way from discovery to actual resolution of their cases. Additionally, I was able to represent clients in Bond Court in front of a Magistrate Judge and even counseled a client who wished to plead for time served! Regardless of whether a student is interested in Criminal Law though, the Clinic offers a unique opportunity to practice and hone oral advocacy skills in court in front of South Carolina Judges.
