Public Defender Clinic

This innovative partnership engages students directly in cutting edge constitutional litigation, as well as the most important issues facing public defenders and indigent defense systems today.

Bradley R. Hall, Director of the Public Defender Clinic

Students in the Public Defender Clinic provide appellate representation to indigent individuals facing criminal charges. Most cases are felony preconviction appeals from trial court decisions, such as prosecutor appeals from dismissal or defense interlocutory appeals from adverse evidentiary rulings. Students are responsible for mastering their case files, meeting with clients, strategizing with trial counsel, writing high quality appellate briefs, and presenting oral argument.

The Public Defender Clinic works in partnership with local trial-level indigent defense systems throughout Michigan to help fill the growing need for preconviction appellate advocacy. Beyond fulfilling the immediate need for exceptional client representation, the Public Defender Clinic trains new generations of public defenders while exposing students to career opportunities throughout Michigan. In a weekly seminar component, students engage with the legal, ethical, moral, and policy issues surrounding their cases and public defense generally.

MSU College of Law is positioned to become an incubator of great new public defenders and indigent defense innovation.

Elizabeth T. Clement, ’02, Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court

The Public Defender Clinic works in partnership with local trial-level indigent defense systems throughout Michigan to help fill the growing need for preconviction appellate advocacy. Beyond fulfilling the immediate need for exceptional client representation, the Public Defender Clinic trains new generations of public defenders while exposing students to career opportunities throughout Michigan. In a weekly seminar component, students engage with the legal, ethical, moral, and policy issues surrounding their cases and public defense generally.

Michigan Court of Appeals upholds dismissal of Detroit murder convictions (Detroit News, Mar. 31, 2026)

Public Defender Clinic working to ensure fair trials (MSU Today, Jan. 29, 2026)

Removing Barriers to Justice (MSU Center for Community Engaged Learning, Dec. 2025)

Increasing hands-on teaching opportunities at MSU Law is a top priority (MSU, June 9, 2025)

MSU Public Defender Clinic takes unique approach to educating law students (The State News, Apr. 14, 2025)

Laying groundwork for appeals: MSU law clinic will help clear a path even before a conviction (Detroit News, Nov. 5, 2024)

MSU College of Law Opens Public Defender Clinic (MSU College of Law, Aug. 20, 2024)