I am deciding between classes and was hoping someone out there might be able to help me out. For next semester, I am deciding between criminal procedure investigations and immigration law. On the one hand, I have heard people say that they wish someone told them to take criminal procedure. On the other, I was told from current clerks that the 5th Circuit receives a lot of immigration appeals, and immigration law honestly sounds a little more interesting to me than criminal procedure. For the spring semester, I am planning on taking choice of law, criminal procedure adjudication (or investigations), and First Amendment.
My other credits will be taken up by a clinical experience as well as professional responsibilities. I have already taken evidence, federal courts, and administrative law. I likely won't be taking employment law or statutory interpretation.
Does anyone have any recommendations as to (1) whether I should prioritize crim pro 1, crim pro 2, or immigration law and (2) whether there are any other classes that I should consider prioritizing instead of what I've mentioned?
3L Classes for COA Clerkship w/ 5th Cir. Forum
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lavarman84
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Re: 3L Classes for COA Clerkship w/ 5th Cir.
I'd prioritize criminal procedure over immigration law, pragmatically. But ultimately, you're going to have to learn crim pro for the bar, so do whatever you think you'll enjoy the most. Although, in my opinion, the investigations crim pro (assuming that it's searches, seizures, Miranda, etc.) is likely more interesting than immigration law (which is pretty technical in practice).
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ExperssioUnius
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Re: 3L Classes for COA Clerkship w/ 5th Cir.
Of the classes you've identified, I would prioritize as follows (1) Crim Pro 1 (Investigation 4th Amendment); (2) Immigration Law; and (3) Crim Pro 2 (Adjudication 5th and 6th Amendment). I take it that your school does not have a Crim Pro survey covering both topics?
That all said, if your are picking classes based on your clerkship, there are two classes, if offered, that I'd prioritize ahead of all the above and they are Habeas and Federal Sentencing. Habeas law is particularly complex and makes up a significant percentage of many circuit court dockets, often including death penalty cases. Furthermore, there have been several recent Supreme Court cases that bring habeas claims into play, especially in the Fifth Circuit given that some circuit precedent has either been overturned or drawn into question by those SCT decisions. FInally, if you need to cut something out, I'd probably cut conflicts of law (just not a ton of cases raise these issues, even if they are very interesting).
That all said, if your are picking classes based on your clerkship, there are two classes, if offered, that I'd prioritize ahead of all the above and they are Habeas and Federal Sentencing. Habeas law is particularly complex and makes up a significant percentage of many circuit court dockets, often including death penalty cases. Furthermore, there have been several recent Supreme Court cases that bring habeas claims into play, especially in the Fifth Circuit given that some circuit precedent has either been overturned or drawn into question by those SCT decisions. FInally, if you need to cut something out, I'd probably cut conflicts of law (just not a ton of cases raise these issues, even if they are very interesting).
