The Family Legal Advocacy and Supports Clinic (FLASC) uses a multi-disciplinary approach to assist families who are at risk of becoming involved in the child welfare system. FLASC is a partnership between the Department of Children and Families, the Law School, and the UW School of Social Work. Social workers from a growing number of counties refer individuals who would benefit from preventive legal advocacy. Law students then work collaboratively with social work students to provide varying levels of assistance, including providing legal information, forms, and guidance to unrepresented litigants on family law issues; direct representation in family law cases; and referrals for non-family law issues.

FLASC is part of the broader Family Court Clinic. Law students focus their advocacy on family law issues, such as divorce, paternity, child support, maintenance, custody and placement, and juvenile guardianships. Students develop legal advocacy skills while gaining a working knowledge of family law in Wisconsin.

FLASC students will:

• Represent clients in selected cases that are referred to FLASC from county social workers
• Assist self-represented family law litigants by providing information and forms and by helping litigants understand court rules and procedures
• Participate in court hearings and mediation
• Work collaboratively with social work students, who will be providing social support for clients

FLASC also involves a classroom component which covers:

• Substantive family law
• General litigation skills
• Issues relevant to substantive topics and our diverse clientele

Students interested in FLASC should contact Cary Bloodworth at bloodworth@wisc.edu.

Because of FLASC’s funding sources, it cannot accept referrals from the general community. Referrals can only come from a county social worker. If you need assistance with a family law issue, please contact the Family Court Clinic. If you need assistance with a non-family law issue, please visit the informational page on the Economic Justice Institute, which has clinics serving a variety of civil legal needs.