Family and Juvenile Law Clinic
Family Law
Family law practice takes place almost entirely in state district courts and is a model for civil law practice in general. Students represent clients in a wide variety of family law matters. Interns
- interview and counsel clients
- file pleadings
- gather evidence
- negotiate with adverse counsel
- argue at hearings and
- file final orders
Students completing this clinic practice develop various skills necessary to understand and practice civil law. Those students especially interested in family law will also become far better acquainted with the substantive law.
One advantage of family law practice is that many of the cases can begin and end in one semester, allowing a student the opportunity to handle all aspects of a case. However, even the cases that must be transferred from one student to another usually can be completed within a year, providing the students a complete understanding of the entire case.
Cases handled include
- divorces
- paternity actions
- adoptions and
- guardianships.
Many clinic clients have been abused, exposing students to the issues in domestic violence and the remedies available to protect victims of abuse. Other issues that may arise include determining how a divorce could affect a client's immigration status; establishing guardianship on behalf of a client over an emancipated child who suffered severe brain damage; and representing an incarcerated client being sued by the welfare department to collect back child support and establish current support.
The family law practice concentration is the capstone experience for students interested in Washburn Law's Children and Family Law Center, providing them an exciting and rewarding method to learn about the actual practice of family law.
Juvenile Law
Juvenile justice issues present unique challenges to the judicial system and the attorneys who work within that system. Students participating in the juvenile law practice concentration work on behalf of teenagers at risk by accepting court appointments as guardians ad litem. The court sends the Law Clinic primarily truancy cases which have proven to be difficult to resolve. Over half of the children represented by the clinic are in foster care. Interns use the legal system to work with youth and families on issues such as
- drug and alcohol dependency
- emotional, physical and sexual abuse
- special education
- gang activity
- running away from placement
- pregnancy
- poverty and
- the angst of just being a teenager.
As guardians ad litem, clinic students develop counseling skills, work collaboratively with other professionals, hone their analytical skills and make frequent court appearances.
To serve the best interests of youth being represented, interns prepare for regular appearances in juvenile court by researching state and federal statutes, conducting careful fact investigations to monitor progress of a case, and writing motions and orders. Students learn to negotiate with other attorneys, social workers, school personnel, service providers, family members, and their clients. With frequent appearances in court, students gain confidence and experience throughtout the semester.
In addition to appearing before the Child in Need of Care Court, students often have an opportunity to represent children in other civil proceedings, such as emancipations. The clinic also appears before the probate court in adoptions and guardianships of children.
