We are excited to introduce our first student “Day in the Life” guest bloggers, Carly Bittman (JD ’15) and Vina Seelam (JD ’16). Carly and Vina worked as full-time clinical students in the Criminal Defense Clinic in partnership on cases under the supervision of director Ron Tyler and clinical supervising attorney Suzanne Luban. Below is an account of one of their days in the clinic.

8:45 a.m. – Arrive at the San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City.  Find our client, head over to our assigned courtroom, and discuss what the hearing will be like and answer any last minute questions.

9:00 a.m. – Time to argue two pre-trial motions.  We win the first motion, a motion to dismiss a public intoxication charge, rendering moot our second motion to sever the now dismissed charge from a second alleged offense that our client has been charged with.

9:30 a.m. – After leaving the courtroom, we congratulate our client on the dismissal and verify the date of our next meeting.  Now we need to track down the Assistant District Attorney (ADA) to discuss the case in light of the judge’s favorable ruling.

 10:00 a.m. – Find the ADA and obtain a new settlement offer in light of the recently dismissed charge.  Head back to the Mills Legal Clinic.

1:00 p.m. – Debrief with the rest of our CDC colleagues.  Learn that while we were at court in Redwood City, our colleagues were in the Santa Clara Superior Court getting a dismissal for one of their clients!

1:30 p.m. – Head to the moot court room to practice cross-examining the police officers who will be prosecution witnesses in an upcoming suppression hearing.

3:30 p.m. – Attend General Rounds.

5:00 p.m. – Finish up the day’s work and start prepping for tomorrow.