LAWYERING FOR CHILDREN CLINIC

Catalog description

Satisfies Experiential Learning requirement. The Practicum will provide students with lawyering skills, substantive legal knowledge and training in non-legal areas such as child development and trauma to prepare them to be excellent attorneys for children and other vulnerable populations. The weekly class will include a discussion of specific cases students are working on, practical training on specific types of youth law cases, substantive legaltraining in Education, Foster Care, Guardianship and Immigration, and additional training in non-legal topics relevant to attorneys working with children and other vulnerable populations, focused on advocacy for clients who have been impacted by trauma. The practicum component will include participation in LSC's warmline (a free and confidential help line), school expulsion hearings, guardianship proceedings, and immigration matters. Students will also have theopportunity to help on LSC policy/advocacy projects. Students will work an average of 16 hours per week.Students will improve their skills in interviewing, issue spotting, case presentation and trial techniques, as well as gain familiarity with administrative hearings, state court hearings, federal immigration proceedings and policy work. Enrollment preference given to third-year students and to Spanish-speaking students able to converse with clients without an interpreter. Admission to the Clinic requires the prior approval of the instructor. Apply through the online Common Clinic Application.