Students assist the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy by investigating credible claims of inmates that they were erroneously convicted of a crime they did not commit. Students interview prisoners and witnesses, examine alleged crime scenes, locate and analyze possible evidence, and prepare relevant documents. Skills students develop can apply in criminal law or civil practices.
Students must have completed 28 credit hours of coursework and be approved by Kentucky Innocence Project supervisors.
The project requires a year-long commitment of 100 hours each semester, detailed monthly reports and timesheets, and a biweekly classroom and case-review element.
Suzanne Hopf has been a staff attorney for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy since 1998. She is currently the Directing Attorney for the Kentucky Innocence Project where she focuses on wrongful conviction cases. She is also active in criminal justice reform efforts and works with local and national organizations as well as the Kentucky legislature to advance best practices in the criminal justice system.
Please submit the following to Aaron Riggs and Prof. Mannheimer (aaron.riggs@ky.gov and mannheimem1@nku.edu) as soon as possible but no later than 11:59 pm on April 10, 2026:
Once the applications are received, you will conference with Ms. Hopf, probably by Zoom.
“In the Kentucky Innocence Project, students learn how to figure out the facts of a case, something they don’t get in their doctrinal courses. They read police reports and other file papers, interview the client and witnesses, and visit the crime scene. This builds important fact-investigation skills that lawyers need, no matter what type of law they practice.”
– Professor Michael Mannheimer, project coordinator
