In 2018, the NIU College of Law initiated the Prisoners' Rights Project in partnership with the P. Michael Mahoney Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Third-year students represent prisoners in federal court who have alleged that their constitutional rights have been violated, typically due to excessive force or failure to receive medical care. The goal of the project is to have each student work up and try a civil rights case in federal court.
Students, typically working in pairs, handle all aspects of the cases, including meeting with their client in prison, keeping their client updated and answering all questions, presenting their client for deposition, identifying witnesses, deposing defendants and fact witnesses, retaining experts, preparing and presenting experts for deposition, preparing the pretrial brief and conducting the jury trial in federal court. Each case is chosen with the expectation it will culminate in a federal jury trial where the students will serve as lead counsel.
IMPORTANT: The Prisoners' Rights Project typically requires a two-semester commitment (fall and spring of the third year of law school), though participation over the summer is possible. Enrollment for the spring 2024 semester is also possible, even if you were not enrolled during Fall 2023. Please contact Professor Falkoff to communicate your interest.
Students must typically commit to participating for two semesters and will be guided through the process by a faculty member who serves as a supervising attorney. You must also attend an orientation to the program prior to the start of the fall semester. The date will be determined in August.