Lucas Godwin Finds Something Interesting in Every Family Law Case
Lucas Godwin (’23) has been actively involved with the Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center throughout his law school career. A Family Law Fellow since his first year, he currently serves as co-president of the Child & Family Law Association (CFLA). “Lucas’ dedication to the DePaul Law community, to his courses and to the Center showcase his leadership abilities and passion to help others,” says Center Executive Director Katie Liss. “He was selected as a Family Law Fellow prior to entering his 1L year, and he has continued to shine as an exemplary student ever since.”
Prior to joining DePaul Law, Godwin attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he majored in political science with a minor in history. He chose to go to law school because he wanted to make an impact, always appreciating the myriad ways in which lawyers help people, not just by being an advocate but also by being a good listener. According to Godwin, “Sometimes all people need is someone who can assure them that they are being heard.”
Godwin was particularly attracted to family law because he wants to guide people through some of the toughest moments in their lives and help them understand what is happening. He’ll also tell you that, “Family law is never boring!
There’s always something interesting going on in every case, and the cases are never the same.”
Through the Center, Godwin has had many opportunities to engage with his family law passion, and he is
“appreciative of DePaul Law and the Center for giving him the chance to participate in so many activities.” After receiving a Family Law Fellow scholarship,
Godwin spent the summer after his 1L year working with child representatives in the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian’s Domestic Relations Division. As co-president of CFLA, he is integral in running its events, including Q&A sessions with family law attorneys and discussion panels with family law judges.
For the remainder of the academic year, Godwin plans to strengthen the organization’s membership and create an executive board to carry it into the future.
Another of
Godwin’s
most notable
achievements was an externship with the Honorable Judge Maritza Martinez of the Cook County Circuit Court’s Domestic Relations Division.
During his externship, he assisted with research
on how adverse childhood experiences affect
children’s brains, and
how
those children
react to their environments.
Using that research,
Godwin helped to create a
presentation
for
Cook County
child representatives.
Godwin
advises
incoming and
current law students
to
not
“worry too much; you’ll be fine. Law school feels daunting, but it’s accomplishable. Just remember to take time for yourself when you need it.” He also advises
students
to get involved, try different jobs and volunteer
because, “while
it might not be what
they want to do in the long
run, they’ll
get experience and make connections.” As he puts it, “Your law school experience may not be black and white. You may find yourself exploring other areas, but in
order to know what you like and don’t like, you need to try out different
things.”
After graduating next Spring,
Godwin plans to work at a family law firm or in nonprofit legal aid
organization
focusing on family law.