Practicum in Criminal Law and Litigation in Partnership with the Office of the District Attorney of Tel Aviv (Criminal Division)
This program offers students a glimpse into the fascinating world of criminal law in Israel from the prosecution's perspective.
Students will become familiar with the daily aspects of the prosecution's work and will be closely mentored by a criminal attorney. They will take part in the various stages of the criminal case including, reviewing the evidence; deciding whether to indict a suspect or close the case; court proceedings, including arraignment hearings and substantiating arguments via witness examination; the stages of appeal; and appearing before the Israel Prison Service Parole Board.
Students will also learn about the prosecution's dealings with a variety of elements, including police investigators, forensic experts, defense attorneys, judges, crime victims, witnesses for the prosecution, the media, Prison Service personnel, and more.
The program is based on a practical-legal tier and an academic-theoretical one:
As part of their practical training, students will be assigned mentors from among the district attorneys, and will assist them in the daily work of the criminal attorney: Studying and researching criminal cases, handling detention cases, deciding the fate of the case, preparing for court appearances, and witness and defendant examination in court.
Students participating in this program will become familiar with the world of criminal law and the criminal attorney, and actively participate in every stage of the case and the relevant decision-making process.
As part of their theoretical training, students will be provided with the necessary tools to understand the world of litigation in general and particularly criminal procedures, which will enable them to participate in the practical, experience-based, criminal litigation discourse.
Students will hear lectures on the practical aspects of the prosecution's work, the basics of criminal procedure, appearing in court and trial procedures, detention procedures, and a wide variety of other burning issues, including the disqualification of illegally-obtained evidence; the fight against organized crime and money laundering; crime victims in criminal proceedings; issues pertaining to reaching plea bargains; prosecution-defense relations, and more.
Students will also learn about significant and complex cases handled by senior district attorneys, and participate in tours and workshops on litigation and criminal proceedings.
This program caters to second, third and fourth-year students.
Admission is based on a personal interview.
The practicum awards students six semester hours, and comprises 40 annual hours of academic training, as well as two days of intensive training at the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office, workshops, and tours.
Academic Supervisor: Dr. Ronen Kritenshtien
Program Directors: Adv. Lital Koren and Adv. Lihi Melzman
For more information please contact lihim@justice.gov.il