California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic

Faculty Director

Professor Kimpel is Associate Dean of Experiential Education, Professor of Law, and the Executive Director of the California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic. Prior to joining California Western School of Law, she was the Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic at the University of Alabama School of Law where she supervised students working on trial, expungement, and post-conviction cases. Earlier in her career, Professor Kimpel worked at the Judicial Council of California in its Criminal Justice Services Office, and as a public defender for both the Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. and the Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender in San Jose. As a public defender, Professor Kimpel tried twenty-five cases in federal and state court and argued before the Ninth Circuit twice. She has been a criminal defense lawyer since 2009, and she expanded her practice to include post-conviction cases in 2015. She earned her J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. and M.A. from Columbia University.