Students in Penn Carey Law’s Criminal Defense Clinic gain hands-on trial experience representing clients in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
2 min. read
Students in Penn Carey Law’s Criminal Defense Clinic gain hands-on experience representing clients of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, combining real-world experience with an educational seminar component tailored to developing courtroom and trial skills. Students begin with client interviews, bail motions, and preliminary hearings, and then progress to misdemeanor trials. They defend clients charged with misdemeanor and felony crimes, working to protect their constitutional rights and ensure due process throughout the criminal justice system.
Maya Gomberg took the Criminal Defense Clinic in Fall 2025, and capped their clinic experience by conducting a full trial in Municipal Court on the last day of the semester.
“I went through the entire process of a trial from motions through the end; there were last minute plea offers. There was a lot of discussion with clients … and I got to do an extremely directed cross,” they say. “I felt good about how I engaged with clients, I felt good about the outcome for clients, and I think I argued well.”
To prepare for trials, Criminal Defense Clinic students master skills ranging from client interviews to court preparation. Thanks to their clinic experience, students learn how to navigate both misdemeanor and felony courtrooms while gaining key insights into the nuanced interactions with judges and their clients.
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