NYU School of Law

Prosecution Clinic - Eastern District of New York

Conducted with the cooperation of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York

Course Description

Approximately ten students will be selected to participate in the Prosecution Clinic at the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York – a national leader in the prosecution of federal crimes, including organized crime, terrorism, public corruption, civil rights, international narcotics trafficking, and white collar cases. Students will work closely with Assistant United States Attorneys in investigating and prosecuting complex and significant criminal cases. Each student will appear in court on behalf of the United States at a trial, hearing and/or other court appearance.

The Eastern District of New York encompasses Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island. The Clinic will operate out of the downtown Brooklyn offices of the United States Attorney, located near Borough Hall. The clinic includes fieldwork and a weekly two-hour seminar. Students will be required to work approximately fifteen hours each week in the United States Attorney's Office. The seminar will meet on Tuesday evenings from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the United States Attorney's Office (with the exception of the first class). 

Work of the Criminal Division

Criminal Division Assistant United States Attorneys handle criminal cases from the investigative stage through appeal, working with federal agents, investigators and local police to plan strategy, presenting cases to the grand jury, negotiating with defense counsel, handling all court appearances and motion practice, trying cases before the bench and jury, and briefing and arguing appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Assistant United States Attorneys in the Eastern District of New York have prosecuted some of the most significant criminal cases in the nation in the areas of organized crime, terrorism, violent crime, public corruption, narcotics trafficking and business and securities fraud. Recent examples include successful prosecutions of: Al Qaeda operatives arrested in the United States; home-grown terrorists who plotted to bomb the NYC subway system and JFK Airport; NYPD detectives who served as hitmen for the mob; Peter Gotti and other leaders of the Gambino crime family; Joseph Massino, godfather of the Bonnano crime family; the NYPD officers responsible for the sexual assault on Abner Louima; the captain of the Staten Island Ferry crash that killed 11 people; Credit Suisse bankers who fraudulently sold toxic auction rate securities; executives of Symbol Technologies for massive stock fraud; and members of the notorious Stapleton Crew, including Ronell Wilson, who murdered two undercover police detectives in Staten Island.

Fieldwork

By participating in this clinic, students will have an opportunity to learn all about the inner workings of the federal criminal justice system. Each student will report to, assist, and work under the supervision of two Criminal Division Assistant United States Attorneys. Students will work closely with each of their supervisors in the investigation, preparation, and prosecution of criminal cases in federal court in Brooklyn. The students' work may include, for example, interviewing federal agents, attending proffers of cooperating witnesses, and drafting motions, briefs, plea agreements and other pleadings and otherwise assisting in the preparation of such materials. Students will also assist Assistant United States Attorneys who are preparing for trial by, for example, debriefing witnesses and drafting jury instructions. Every student will appear in court on behalf of the United States at a trial, hearing and/or other court appearance.

The Seminar

Participants will meet weekly for a two-hour evening seminar to discuss, study, and explore the many important roles of the prosecutor in the federal criminal justice system. Classes will focus on numerous topics, including ethical considerations in the prosecution of criminal cases and the strategies and practical skills involved in federal criminal prosecutions. Students will also be required to participate in courtroom simulations of detention hearings, jury addresses and witness examinations, so that students can improve and enhance their advocacy skills and prepare for actual court appearances on behalf of the United States.

Application Procedure

Interested students should immediately submit an application, transcript and resume via the online application system. There will be no interview. Students should contact Michelle Williams via email or at 212-998-6439 to confirm receipt of their applications.

Student Contacts

* Students selected for this clinic will be required to undergo an in-depth FBI security clearance check that is required of lawyers, non-legal staff and interns working in all U.S. Attorney's Offices. Students must be United States citizens and meet residency requirements to be eligible for the Prosecution Clinic. It is critical that updated contact information be provided so that the required security paperwork may be completed and returned as soon as possible so that the security clearance may be completed in time for the student to commence clinic work. In addition, because the U.S. Attorney's Office is involved in litigation against many private law offices, legal services offices and other state or municipal law firms, students may not work part-time in such an office and participate in this clinic. Furthermore, you may not work for any federal judges while participating in this clinic.

** 5 credits includes 3 clinical credits and 2 academic seminar credits.

*** These courses may be taken concurrently with the clinic, though neither class is required.

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