Fall and Spring Semester: 4 credit hours per semester (2 credit hours for the field work and two credit hours for the seminar)
This year-long field clinic offers a study of the laws of marriage, divorce, invalidity of marriage, legal separation, parentage, and adoption. The field clinic practice portion will center around the representation of real clients in these types of cases at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS). Students will be involved in interviewing and counseling clients, developing case plans and strategies, investigating witnesses and facts, preparing letters and legal documents, negotiating, going to court, and otherwise helping clients solve real family law disputes. Students will handle between 4-8 legal matters for individual clients, depending on the duration and complexity of each case. Students will work individually and in collaboration with others in the class. Students will spend a minimum of 7 hours/week working at CVLS during the autumn and spring semesters.
"[I] gained so much confidence in experiencing filing legal documents firsthand and directly interacting with clients" - Olivia, Family Law Clinic Student
Course Information
Instructors: Phillip Mohr and Rob Zielinski
Instruction: This course is a combination of lecture, in-class discussion, skills instruction and client counseling
Number of Students: Up to 10 students
711 License: A 711 license is preferred but not required to participate in the Family Law Field Clinic
Prerequisites: None
Eligibility: Only rising 2L and 3L students are eligible to apply