Academic Opportunities

​​​​​​​​​​​​Taught by experienced full-time and adjunct faculty who are experts in their fields, DePaul Law's comprehensive family law curriculum offers you access to theoretical as well as practical courses in areas such as divorce, mediation, child advocacy, child abuse and neglect, juvenile justice, domestic violence, elder law and disability law. Paired with hands-on learning experiences, these offerings contribute to an outstanding, well-rounded family law education. 

JD Certificate in Family Law 

In today’s legal market, there is a growing demand for family law attorneys with specialized credentials. To gain an advantage in the workforce, you can complete a JD Certificate in Family Law, and within the certificate, you can select courses in one of three practice tracks—divorce/marital dissolution, child advocacy or elder law—each designed to support distinct career goals. (Please note that transcripts only designate completion of the family law certificate.) 

  • Required Courses (all tracks)

  • Recommended Courses for Child Advocacy

  • Recommended Courses for Divorce/Marital Dissolution

  • Recommended Courses for Elder Law

For full course descriptions, please visit the University catalog page​.​

​Experiential Learning 

You also will benefit from real-life experiential learning opportunities that complement and round out your family law studies: 

  • The Family Law Field Clinic with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services allows students to work on real family law cases under attorney supervision. 
  • The Domestic Violence Practicum enables you to volunteer with Ascend Justice, assisting self-represented individuals seeking Emergency Orders of Protection in Cook County's Domestic Violence Court.