Participants work through complex cases in the full range of family law matters. The clinic places special emphasis on training students to communicate with clients and to deal with the complex dynamics of family relationships. The Family Law Clinic provides students with the opportunity to develop practice skills and an intensive understanding of various areas of family law practice. Students are admitted in the first semester of their third year day or fourth year evening and typically remain in the clinic for two semesters. Students serve as counsel to clients in divorce and adoption cases from original interview through final judgment.
Students also serve as law guardians for children in termination of parental rights and other cases.
They are supervised in their activities by the clinics attorneys, but have primary responsibility for the conduct of the case. Students draft all pleadings and make court appearances on behalf of their clients. The clinic offers training in techniques of advocacy and in legal ethics as well as providing an important service to those who would otherwise be unable to afford legal representation. The clinic is open to day and evening students who are the equivalent of a third year day student. The course is letter-graded for both the clinical and class components.