Jamie T. Lau

Jamie T. Lau is a Clinical Professor of Law at Duke University School of Law, serving as Supervising Attorney for the Wrongful Convictions Clinic, Deputy Director of the Center for Criminal Justice and Professional Responsibility, and faculty adviser to the Innocence Project. He co-teaches seminars on Wrongful Conviction and pre-trial criminal litigation.

Education

• JD, cum laude, Duke University School of Law
• BA in Economics, with distinction, University of California, Berkeley
• MS in Secondary Mathematics Education, Lehman College

Professor Lau's research and practice focus on criminal justice reform, wrongful convictions, and clemency advocacy. His work has directly contributed to high-impact exonerations including Ronnie Long's release after 43 years of wrongful incarceration and secured commutations such as Anthony Willis's (incarcerated at age 16, served 25 years). He pioneered Duke's Clemency Project in 2022, emphasizing rehabilitation-focused second-chance opportunities through clinical student engagement.

Advising and Clinical Leadership

• Innocence Project: Primary faculty adviser
• Wrongful Convictions Clinic: Supervising Attorney for clinical courses (493/494) and co-instructor for Pretrial Criminal Litigation (425)
• Clemency Project: Founder and director overseeing petition strategies for incarcerated individuals

Professional Background

• Lead investigator at North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission for State v. Kagonyera (resulting in five exoneration despite guilty pleas)
• Licensed in North Carolina state courts, all federal district courts in NC, and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Professional memberships: American Bar Association, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers