Paul J. Cain

Title: Clinical Professor
Office Phone: 815-962-9980
Email: pcain@niu.edu
Education: B.A., Colorado State University
J.D., Franklin Pierce Law Center

Paul J. Cain is a clinical professor in the College of Law’s Clinical Faculty. Professor Cain teaches the Criminal Defense Clinic. He joined the Northern Illinois University College of Law in September 2003. During his teaching in the clinical program at NIU, Professor Cain has also taught the Mediation Clinic, the Elder Law Clinic, the Domestic Abuse Clinic and the Juvenile Justice Clinic. He also co-taught the COVID-19 Legal Response Clinic. In addition to clinical teaching, Professor Cain has taught Lawyering Skills, the pre-trial simulation course.

In 2009, prior to becoming a clinical faculty member and while a member of the supportive professional staff, Professor Cain received a Certificate of Recognition from the Northern Illinois University Supportive Professional Staff Council for making important contributions to NIU or to the profession outside of regular job duties. This award is given annually to 25 supportive professional staff of the 800 university-wide supportive professional staff.

Prior to teaching at NIU, Professor Cain taught as a visitor in the clinical program at the University of Denver College of Law. At Denver, Professor Cain directed the Externship Program for two years, taught in the Civil Clinic for one year, taught part-time in the Criminal Defense Clinic and co-taught a Wrongful Conviction course. Professor Cain began his teaching career as a visitor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic. At Case Western, Professor Cain taught in the Criminal Defense Clinic for one year and in the Civil Clinic for one year.

Prior to teaching, Professor Cain practice civil and criminal law for eighteen years in central Ohio. He began his career with legal services, then practiced with small firms before opening his own practice.

Professor Cain is past president of the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Professor Cain has served on various committees of the Winnebago County Bar Association and the 17th Judicial Circuit Court Family Violence Coordinating Council. Professor Cain has also been a mentor in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court Mentoring Program.

Areas of Expertise

  • Clinical legal education
  • Juvenile justice
  • Criminal law

Recent Activities

| SSRN Author Page | HeinOnline Author Profile |

Articles

  • Doing the ‘Right’ Thing: An Analytical Model Examining the Interplay between Ethical Professional Conduct, Morality, and Justice, 10 T.M. Cooley J. Prac. & Clinical L. 149 (2008). (Available in SSRN)
  • A First Step Toward Introducing Emotional Intelligence Into The Law School Curriculum: The ‘Emotional Intelligence and the Clinic Student’ Class, 14 Legal Educ. Rev. 1 (2004). (Available in SSRN)

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