Harnessing existing strengths in criminal law, the school will allow students to concentrate in this area of legal practice, starting with the Class of 2014.

The decision to launch the concentration reflects the presence of faculty who are experienced in practicing criminal law, as prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and civil rights advocates.

Since the school opened its doors, students have had intensive opportunities to gain firsthand experience in criminal law through the co-op, clinical, pro bono and trial advocacy programs.

"This new concentration takes advantage of the wealth we have in this area of law at the school," Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs Dan Filler said. "And thanks to the active needs of criminal courts, jobs area available for prosecutors and defense attorneys."

Filler is himself a veteran of the criminal courts, having worked for the Defender Association of Philadelphia and the Bronx Defenders before deciding to teach law at the University of Alabama School of Law, where he created the Capital Defense Clinic.

The full-time faculty also features: Donald F. Tibbs, who explores overlapping issues of race, law, civil rights and criminal procedure, Emily Zimmerman, a former chief of the Civil and Exceptional Litigation Unit for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Anil Kalhan, whose research explores the criminalization of immigrants, Kevin Woodson, who specializes in criminal procedure and civil rights law and Adam Benforado, who applies insights from mind sciences to criminal law.

The roster of adjunct professors includes attorneys from the state and federal defender offices, federal and state court judges and assistant U.S. attorneys.

The school’s Co-op Program includes partnerships with several district attorney and prosecutors’ offices in the Delaware Valley, criminal-court judges and the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division.

Clinical opportunities include placements with the Defender Association of Philadelphia and assignments with the Appellate Litigation Clinic that include criminal appeals. The pro bono program includes opportunities to work with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project to exonerate wrongfully convicted prisoners.

Ten members of the Class of 2012 found work with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the Defender Association of Philadelphia, while others are clerking for judges who preside in criminal courts at both the trial and appellate level.