Family Law Field Clinic

In the Family Law Field Clinic, students represent real clients in family law matters through a yearlong field placement with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), a legal aid nonprofit with more than six decades of pro bono service. Students spend a minimum of seven hours per week at CVLS during the autumn and spring semesters, handling cases involving marriage, divorce, legal separation, parentage, invalidity of marriage and adoption. 

Students work individually and in collaboration with classmates as they handle four to eight legal matters for individual clients, depending on the duration and complexity of each case. Through this work, they build experience in client counseling, case planning, factual investigation, legal drafting, negotiation and court appearances. 

The Clinic also is a two-time recipient of an Illinois Bar Foundation grant, which supports organizations that expand meaningful access to the civil justice system. 

What You’ll Do 

• Represent clients in family law matters through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
• Handle legal issues involving marriage, divorce, legal separation, parentage, invalidity of marriage and adoption Interview and counsel clients
• Develop case plans and legal strategies Investigate witnesses and facts
• Prepare letters and legal documents
• Negotiate and appear in court
• Work individually and collaboratively to help clients address real family law disputes Instructors

Course Information

• Instruction: A combination of lecture, in-class discussion, skills instruction and client counseling
• Credits: Yearlong, 4 credit hours per semester; 2 credit hours for fieldwork and 2 credit hours for the seminar
• Number of students: Up to 10 students
• 711 License: Preferred but not required
• Prerequisites: None
• Eligibility: Only rising 2L and 3L students are eligible to apply

Support for the Clinic

Donor support helps the Clinic expand legal services for clients while strengthening the clinical learning experience for our students.