How We Are Involved


About the Program

Yale Law School offers a rich academic experience studying criminal law through many different lenses. In addition to a variety of courses, students can collaborate with faculty on empirical research, work on reform efforts, and gain hands-on experience through work with clinics and student organizations.

Faculty

Course Offerings

Liman colloquium attendees

Centers & Programs

Three vibrant centers at the Law School create a myriad of ways for students to get involved in criminal justice reform work that is having a profound impact across the country.

The Justice Collaboratory

The Arthur Liman Center for Public Interest Law

The Law and Racial Justice Center

Experiential Learning

Several clinics and student organizations play an important role in introducing students to the state and federal criminal justice systems and affording the students an opportunity to represent individual clients and pursue systemic reforms.  

Beshar/Lehner Gender Violence Clinic

Peter Gruber Challenging Mass Incarceration Clinic

Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic

Samuel Jacobs Criminal Justice Clinic

Strategic Advocacy Clinic

Legal Assistance: Reentry Clinic

Prosecution Externship

Wednesday, September 20, 2023


Alicia Bannon ’07

Alicia Bannon ’07 recently co-authored “Reflections on Fees and Fines as Stategraft.”

Wednesday, July 5, 2023


Issa Kohler-Hausmann and Avery Gilbert in the classroom

Professor Issa Kohler-Hausmann ’08 and Avery Gilbert lead a Strategic Advocacy Clinic class.

Friday, June 2, 2023


Four people seated on a stage in an auditorium before an audience as another person on stage walks toward the podium. A screen above the seated panelists shows head-and-shoulders photos of six men on a black background

Panelists (from left) Bidish Sarma, Gaylord Salters, Miriam Gohara, and Alex Taubes in discussion on the panel “Mass Incarceration, Racial Injustice, and Opportunities for Relief.” Jennifer Taylor ’10, at podium, moderated.

Thursday, November 3, 2022


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Friday, October 14, 2022


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Thursday, September 15, 2022


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Thursday, September 15, 2022


2:31

Thursday, August 31, 2023


In The Press

Why Aren’t Cops Held to Account?

The New York Review

Clinical Lecturer in Law Linda Greenhouse ’78 MSL reviews the books The Fear of Too Much Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Persistence of Inequality in the Criminal Courts by Visiting Lecturer Stephen Bright and James Kwak ’11, and Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable by Joanna Schwartz ’00.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023


In The Press

Police Decertification in CT Must Include Sexual Misconduct as a Specific Ground — A Commentary by Alice Miller et al.

CT Mirror

Associate Professor (Adjunct) of Law Alice Miller is Co-Director of the Global Health Justice Partnership at Yale Law School. Daniel Newton is the Gender & Sexuality Fellow at the Global Health Justice Partnership. Megan Handau is a member of the Yale Law School class of 2025. Beatrice Codianni is founder and former Executive Director of the Sex Workers and Allies Network.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023


In The Press

Study Shows First Words From Police During Traffic Stops Affect Outcome for Black Drivers

PBS NewsHour

Walton Hale Hamilton Professor of Law Tracey L. Meares comments on a new study showing that, for Black drivers, a police officer’s first 45 words during a traffic stop indicate how the encounter will end.

Thursday, June 1, 2023


In The Press

Prosecutors Have Audio of Trump Discussing Classified Documents He Kept, Reports Say

PBS NewsHour

Gerard C. and Bernice Latrobe Smith Professor of International Law Oona A. Hathaway ’97 discusses the reports of recordings of former President Donald Trump discussing classified documents.

Wednesday, May 31, 2023


In The Press

For Black drivers, a police officer's first 45 words are a sign of what's to come

NPR

Walton Hale Hamilton Professor and Founding Director of the Justice Collaboratory Tracey L. Meares comments on interactions between police and Black men.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023


In The Press

The Politics of Commutations in Connecticut

Connecticut Public

Clinical Professor of Law Miriam Gohara joins a conversation about why commutations have become a political issue in Connecticut.

Alumni Profiles


A.T. Wall
’80

A.T. Wall

Criminal Justice Reform and the Corrections System

Most people think there is a giant gap between doing academic work and doing real practice work. This law school has relentlessly refused to accept that gap. And you see it every day.”


Heather Gerken

Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law