Laura Mahler

When I signed up for the criminal defense clinic for the Spring of my 2L year, I already knew I wanted to be a public defender. But my experience with the clinic confirmed my passion for this work and helped me develop the skills necessary to be a strong advocate for my clients. As a clinic student, I had the opportunity to practice meeting with clients, arguing motions in court, and representing clients at jury trials. Now that I’m working as a public defender, I realize just how invaluable my clinic experience was. As a clinic student, I was able to meet with my supervisor and go over every piece of work product in detail. My supervisor and I would go through multiple drafts of a motion, cross, or opening statement. We would moot any argument or cross-examination that would be presented in court. Coming into my job as a public defender already knowing how to write a cross, advise a client, and select a jury has allowed me to hit the ground running as a brand new public defender, and I wouldn’t have the skills to do so if it weren’t for my time in the Criminal Defense Clinic. The Criminal Defense Clinic showed me what the standard of practice should be for public defenders and set the bar for the type of representation I want to provide to every single client I have the privilege of standing next to in court.