More than 400 Marylanders are serving over 20 years in prison for crimes they were convicted of as children, and more than 300 are serving life sentences. Maryland leads the nation in racial disparities in our criminal legal system – more than 70% of Maryland’s prison population is black compared to the 30% overall population of black Marylanders. Student attorneys in this clinic will develop litigation skills while filling a critical legal service need for incarcerated Marylanders by representing clients who are eligible for a sentence modification under the newly passed Juvenile Restoration Act.

Students in this clinic will represent incarcerated clients who were sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for crimes they were convicted of as children. Student attorneys will develop client interviewing, counseling, and fact investigation skills through in-class simulations and representation of clients. Student attorneys will also utilize their knowledge and skills in case theory development and persuasive legal analysis to draft motions for resentencing, and may have the opportunity to appear in circuit court in sentence modification hearings.

This clinic will be offered in fall 2024 and spring 2025 as a one-semester clinic for six credits. All students enrolled in fall clinic will be required to attend in-person clinic orientation on Friday, August 23, 2024, and those enrolled in spring clinic will be required to attend in-person clinic orientation on Friday, January 10, 2025, in addition to any clinic-specific orientation that the professor may schedule.