MDefenders is a faculty-sponsored organization at the University of Michigan Law School designed to (a) help current law students figure out if public defense is the right career path for them; (b) provide a nurturing and supportive community for aspiring public defenders; (c) teach aspiring public defenders skills to help them succeed as public defenders; (d) connect University of Michigan alumni who are doing public defense work with one another and provide them with helpful resources; (e) help connect students and alumni interested in public defense jobs with employers who are looking to hire public defenders; and (f) maintain the Data for Defenders database, which provides public defenders around the country with sample briefs, motions, and transcripts to promote creative and evidence-based advocacy through strategic and effective use of social science research.
University of Michigan Law School students interested in attending MDefenders events should look at the
Calendar of Events and examine the many resources available under the
Students tab. They can also look at our intensive, year-long, four-credit
Public Defender Training Institute.
University of Michigan Alumni doing public defender work can access resources on the
Alumni tab.
Employers interested in listing job postings should go to the
Employers tab.
Public defenders and public defense organizations interested in learning more about how to incorporate cutting-edge social science research into defense advocacy, should check out the Data for Defenders website. Public defense organizations and offices interested in partnering with us to promote the database should contact us at mdefendersinfo@umich.edu.
If you have questions about MDefenders, please contact Professor Eve Brensike Primus at
ebrensik@umich.edu.
