About Children's Law
Lawyers who work on behalf of children do so in a variety of contexts, including adoption, defense of juveniles in juvenile and criminal court, child abuse and neglect (prevention policies/services or representation of children in termination hearings), prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases, school and education issues, representing parents in family law litigation (divorce, child custody, etc.), and representing children as guardians ad litem in family law litigation.
Lawyers in this area also work on developing and changing public policy in issues involving children, such as healthcare, education, economic justice issues affecting children, trafficking and international child labor issues, juvenile crime prevention and conditions of juvenile confinement, domestic violence, dating violence among youth, gay and lesbian youth advocacy, foster care, and immigration. Lawyer's representing children or working on children's law issues most often work for the government (in public defenders' or corporation counsels' offices) or in nonprofit organizations. Lawyers in private practice may represent children or be involved with children's law issues as guardian ad litems, in adoption proceedings, or in custody cases.
Children's law is a small and specialized area of practice, and students interested in this practice area are encouraged to become involved with children's law resources in the Law School, such as the Children's Justice Project.
Courses
Note: Whether a particular course is scheduled depends on faculty availability and student demand. View the Course Descriptions for more information about each course and when it's offered.
Core/Foundation Courses
These are the core courses that employers expect a student interested in this specialty to have .
- Family Law:
- Marriage & Divorce
- Parent & Child
Recommended Courses
Students interested in this practice area should consider including one or more of the following courses as electives.
Enrichment Courses
These courses deepen or broaden the skills and substantive information that a lawyer in this field needs and may also provide advanced courses for students interested in a specialty within this area of practice.
Clinics, Internships, & Externships
Family Court Clinic
The Family Court Clinic is a clinical program designed to help make the legal system more accessible to low-income, unrepresented people with divorce, post-divorce, paternity, and restraining order matters. Students do not serve as advocates, but rather as facilitators/mediators, working with the parties to prepare cases for decision. Students undergo in-depth skills training in interviewing, counseling, and negotiations, and learn the nuts and bolts of family law.
Prosecution Project & Public Defender Projects
As part of the Remington Center's Public Defender Project and Prosecution Project, a limited number of students are placed in juvenile units of Wisconsin public defender offices or prosecution offices. The project consists of three parts:
- Three-credit spring seminar which provides an in-depth understanding of the role of the public defender/prosecutor in the criminal justice system, and a two-credit trial advocacy course (typically taken in the spring of a student's second year)
- Ten-week paid summer internship in a Wisconsin public defender or prosecutor's office
- Two-credit fall seminar devoted to reflection upon the summer experience (note: this seminar satisfies the Professional Responsibilities requirement)
Learn more about the Prosecution Project & Public Defender Projects »
Student Organizations & Related Activities
Students involved in student activities and organizations are often strong job candidates. Employers look for students who show leadership, public service, and community involvement.
For a full list of student organizations at UW Law, view the Student Organizations, Journals, & Activities.
Faculty
Here are some of the full-time faculty who teach or have an interest in this subject area:
In addition to our full-time faculty, the Law School's adjunct faculty members — prominent practicing lawyers and judges — bring their specialized knowledge and experience to the classroom. Filter by "Adjunct" in the Law School Directory for a full list.
