SARAH ANDERSON
Criminal Defense Law
This was an amazing opportunity to network with professionals in the area
Mr. Shapiro explained more about jury selection and working in private practice
Ms. Devlin creates informational packets on her clients to show their humanity in hopes of leniency in sentencing
Mr. Whalen clarified appellate process and brought to light the subjectivity yet predictability of sentencing
After agreeing to a mentorship, Ms. Petty offered the opportunity to shadow her during docket
A beautiful courthouse for various observations throughout the year with Ms. Claire Petty
After months of hard work spent researching judicial selection in the US and writing a bill, the original work assignment was presented
Ms. Petty provided a wonderful opportunity to observe her in felony court during a motion to suppress in one of her cases
Criminal Defense Law
Criminal defense law is the practice of protecting a suspect's constitutional rights before and during a criminal investigation or trial. Individuals charged of a crime are defended during a trial to ensure his or her rights are not infringed upon and that criminal procedure is followed. Criminal defense attorneys work with suspects to build a reasonable defense, ensure that evidence collected without following procedure is excluded, and argue for a lesser sentence if the suspect is found guilty. Throughout the course of the case, defense attorneys may work towards a plea deal or go to trial with help from jury consultants or experts in a field related to the case to garner support and additional evidence against the prosecution.