Northern Illinois University
College of Law

Professor	Marc D. Falkoff, Professor of Law, Phone: 815-753-0660
Registering	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 terms may be 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.
Credits and Grading	4 credits per semester, Pass/Fail
Max. Enrollment	8 students
Prerequisites	Professional Responsibility (643) and Introduction to Lawyering Skills (720)
Recommended Courses	Evidence (655)
711 Requirement	Students must be eligible for an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 License, which requires completion of 45 credits and Dean’s approval. See the Clinical Program website for instructions for applying for a 711 License.
Orientation Requirement	Students must attend an orientation to the program prior to the start of the fall semester. The date will be determined in August.
Seminar Class and Experiential Component	Seminar Class: Day/time to be determined. Contact Prof. Falkoff for details. Experiential Component: In addition to the seminar class, students must spend on average 12 hours per week on case work. Students must also be available to work on behalf of clients at additional times as necessary. Hours typically may be completed on campus or elsewhere. Some hours will necessarily be spent in prison visits or in court.

Description

Students in the Prisoners' Rights Project represent inmates who have federal civil rights claims arising out of prison conditions, typically excessive force or failure to receive medical care. The goal of the Prisoners’ Rights Project is to have each student workup and try a prisoner’s civil rights case in federal court.

Students will be responsible for all aspects of their client’s case including meeting with their client in prison, keeping their client updated on the status of his/her case including 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.