Criminal Law Program

Criminal Law at Pace

For an aspiring prosecutor or criminal defense lawyer, Pace Law provides comprehensive training. Not only do we offer a wide range of criminal law courses each semester, but upper-level students have the opportunity to participate in our criminal defense clinic and our prosecution externships.

In the Barbara C. Salken Criminal Justice Clinic, student attorneys--closely supervised by our experienced faculty--handle all aspects of the representation of indigent clients charged with misdemeanor offenses in the Bronx County Criminal Court. Meanwhile, through our prosecution externships, student attorneys are placed in District Attorney's offices and have the chance to draft accusatory instruments and stand up in court. This hands-on experience helps our graduates go directly into criminal law positions upon graduation, with numerous students being hired directly by the District Attorney's offices in which they externed while at Pace Law. Supporting all of this work is our Pace Criminal Justice Institute, which brings together students, practitioners, and policymakers for discussions of the most pressing criminal law issues today.

Pace Criminal Justice Institute: Connecting Theory and Practice

The Pace Criminal Justice Institute connects students, scholars, policymakers and practitioners through a continuous series of programs, symposia, and conferences. The Institute brings leading experts to campus to debate emerging issues and to promote criminal law reforms, and plays a vital role in challenging students to apply the theory they learn in the classroom to critical issues facing us today.