USD's School of Law Establishes New Legal Clinic

The Innocence Clinic focused on wrongful conviction cases

The University of San Diego's School of Law has announced a new partnership with San Diego's The Innocence Center to establish the school's 13th legal clinic — the Innocence Clinic. 

Creation of the new clinic, which will allow USD law students to work alongside the team at The Innocence Center on wrongful conviction cases, coincided with Wrongful Conviction Day and was unveiled Thursday in the KIPJ Theatre during a panel discussion featuring Exoneree and Innocence Center Board Member Amanda Knox. 

The panel also featured Justin Brooks, USD law professor and founder of the California Innocence Project; and David Thompson, president of Wicklander-Zulawski, a leading authority on interrogation practices. The panel, moderated by Michael Semanchik, executive director of The Innocence Center, focused on false confessions, one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions nationwide.

“I’ve spent my entire career advocating on behalf of innocent people who have been wrongfully incarcerated,” said Brooks. “I’m excited to be able to continue that work at USD School of Law, along with my colleagues at The Innocence Center.” 

The Innocence Clinic, similar to the school's other 12 legal clinics, will deliver free legal services to the community while providing practical legal skills to students representing clients in actual cases.

In 2024, students logged more than 18,500 hours for clients and closed more than 500 cases. 

“This partnership with The Innocence Center provides a vital enhancement of the superb clinical offerings at USD School of Law," said Robert Schapiro, dean and C. Hugh Friedman Professor of Law. Our students will have the unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into the workings of the criminal justice system, as they protect the innocent, advance the rule of law and serve the community."

See photos from the event here.

— USD News Center