Jeffrey L. Fisher, 38

Supreme Court Litigation Clinic

Fisher's clinic remains one of the most prolific Supreme Court practices in the country - and it's not even a law firm. Taking mostly pro bono criminal cases, the clinic ostensibly is aimed at teaching students how to write better briefs and argue before an appellate panel. It just happens to be run by one of the nation's leading Supreme Court advocates and prompts the most significant developments in case law in the United States. Among Fisher's victories this year is People v. Melendez-Diaz, a watershed case requiring forensics lab analysts to appear personally in criminal trials. The ruling has required prosecutors nationwide to rethink their tactics in presenting forensic evidence.