DeKALB – Starting in the fall, a handful of Northern Illinois University law students will get to represent prison inmates in civil lawsuits filed in federal court.
NIU and the Rockford Chapter of the Federal Bar Association are partnering to create the Prisoners’ Rights Project, which allows third-year law students to work cases throughout the academic year. A formal announcement of the project’s launch will take place Friday in the Stanley J. Roszkowski Courthouse in Rockford.
Marc Falkoff, NIU associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law, said the six students in the first year will devote 12 hours of field work a week toward the project. These six students, advised by adjunct professor and attorney Lisa Jensen, will represent prisoners alleging their constitutional rights were violated by correctional officers or other prison staff.
“We’re going to have a handful of students graduating with a jury trial under their belt which is more than what most practicing lawyers can say right now,” Falkoff said. “It’s a remarkable opportunity for a law student.”
Students are responsible for interviewing clients or witnesses, gathering evidence, writing interrogatories, conducting depositions and arguing the case.
“Students are responsible for it soup to nuts,” Falkoff said.
Law students are required to participate in one of the university’s clinical programs – such as civil justice or criminal defense – or an externship. In the civil justice clinic, students will engage in real-life cases, such as getting an order of protection for domestic violence victims. In criminal defense, students represent adults in misdemeanor offenses or major traffic incidents.
Falkoff said the Prisoner’s Rights Project will be like a hybrid of clinical services combined with externship experience.
The Federal Bar Association will provide most of the funding to allow the hiring of a seasoned practitioner as an adjunct instructor, while the College of Law will cover the remainder of the costs, Falkoff said.
So long as things run smoothly during the first year, Falkoff said the college will look to increase the number of participants.