Juvenile Justice Clinic
Student attorneys in the Juvenile Justice Clinic represent teenagers accused of crimes
and status offenses in Richland and Lexington County Family Court. Student attorneys
interview and counsel clients, investigate and research cases, prepare for trials,
negotiate with solicitors and the Department of Juvenile Justice, and advocate for
clients in and out of court at all stages of a case from intake through disposition
The clinic will afford participating students an opportunity to gain closely-supervised
experience in the representation of real clients and the practice of the skills of
litigation planning, client counseling, fact development, negotiating, and courtroom
advocacy. The vehicle for such training and experience is the planning, preparation
and presentation of the legal defense of children in cases involving allegations of
delinquent (i.e. criminal) conduct, including pre-trial issues, guilt or innocence,
and disposition (i.e. sentencing) advocacy. All casework will be done under the supervision
of a clinical professor.
Student Testimonial: Lashawnda Woods-Roberts, Class of ’18
Participating in the Juvenile Justice Clinic allowed me to develop holistic trial
and advocacy skills that were client-focused and solution-oriented. We directly represented
justice-involved children, partnered with national and state organizations on juvenile
justice issues, and participated in true discourse regarding racial, economic and
social injustices in the field. My selection as a 2018 Equal Justice Works Fellow
would not have occurred but for the expert training Professor Josh Gupta-Kagan provided
during my clinic. The vital skills I acquired during this intensive experiential learning
are transferable to any practice and the benefits of this clinic and the UofSC Law
clinical program at large are unparalleled.”