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Children's Law Center

• Deliquency clinic
• Disability law clinic
• Juvenile law and policy clinic

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Law School houses the Children's Law Center of the University of Richmond (CLC-UR) which operates three entry-level clinics and one advanced clinic in which the students, under the supervision of Law School faculty members, represent real clients or work on real policy issues. The center has its own facilities within the Law School that include videotape capability, student carrels, an interview room, and a class/conference room.

The CLC-UR clinics enrich the academic life of participants by allowing them to represent clients from initial client interview through resolution of the client's problem, whether that involves drafting a document, settling a dispute, or litigating a lawsuit. As part of the Law School's integrated skills program, the CLC-UR clinics build upon and reinforce work done in the simulation-based courses as well as in traditional coursework. In addition to advanced skills training, the clinical setting provides students with an opportunity to apply these skills in real-life situations. The CLC-UR clinics also allow law students to question some of the assumptions and deficiencies in the practice of law generally, as well as in the specific context of children's law. Finally, the CLC-UR clinics focus on issues of professionalism and professional responsibility in preparing students to become members of the bar. The concepts of ethics, professionalism and zealous representation take on new dimensions when viewed against the backdrop of real clients with real problems. Students leave the clinic with a true sense of what it means to be a professional - - from managing their time and organizing case files to planning case strategy to resolving ethical dilemmas as they arise.

Through representation and discussion, a clinic offers the chance to explore working relationships, whether with a work partner, a supervisor, a client, or opposing counsel.  Students often find these interactions, which provide the opportunity to realize how many different approaches may be employed in similar situations, to be one of the most important parts of their clinical experience.

Students find that the commitment they feel to their clients gives added meaning and purpose not only to their time in the clinic but also to their work in their other courses.  They also find that the clinic provides a valuable opportunity to explore the application of theories discussed elsewhere in the school, and to examine development and implementation of policies.  As a vital part of the law school curriculum, the in-house clinics offer an exciting opportunity for students to test and expand their own abilities and horizons.

Students enroll in either the Disability Law Clinic or Delinquency Clinic for six credit hours. The Juvenile Law and Policy Clinic is a two semester course offered for three credit hours in the fall and two credit hours the following spring. Credit hours earned in these clinics s are not included within the hours of non-law work which can be counted toward meeting the 86 hours required for graduation. Credit-hours are, however, included in the 12 clinical hours that can be applied toward graduation. Letter grades are awarded for work in the CLC-UR clinics. Preference for enrollment is given to third-year students.

Advanced children's law clinic

With faculty permission, students who have completed either the Delinquency Clinic or the Disability Law Clinic, may enroll in the Advanced Children's Law Clinic for between two to six credits. Advanced students take leaderships roles in clinic cases and complete a significant project over the course of the semester. Students will be working on cases from both the Delinquency and Disability Law Clinics. The Clinic itself will be tailored for each student enrolled in it. For more information, please see Professor Kelley Bartges or Professor Adrienne Volenik in the Children's Law Center.