Children's Justice Clinic
Students participating in the 2-semester Children’s Justice Clinic will graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective advocate for our most vulnerable population – children who are abused and neglected. The Director, Michelle Paxton, and the multidisciplinary team from the Center on Children, Families and the Law have created a unique clinical experience for law students which includes:
- Guardian ad Litem Foundations - an intensive classroom component that students will take prior to representing clients in order to learn the foundations of child representation.
- Seminars to enhance and complement the knowledge and skills learned in the foundation course.
- Case consultation from the director and the multidisciplinary team from the Center on Children, Families and the Law.
- Reflective consultation to equip students for handling the emotional nature of the cases.
Every case in juvenile court is unique so no students’ clinical experience will be the same. In the Children’s Justice Clinic, there will be opportunities for peer learning based on their individual experiences.
Expectations
All students except those interested in the Immigration Clinic will be selected by an application process held during the pre-registration period in the spring. In other words, students interested in taking any Clinic other than the Immigration Clinic during the summer, fall or spring must apply and register during the registration period held in the spring. The application deadline is announced in the Sounding Block and by email to student listservs. To apply for a Clinic, students complete an application form and other required documents online. At the time the application deadline is announced, forms will be made available to students so they can complete them. The Dean's Office emails the selection results to students selected.