Students in the clinic can expect to focus on:
- Interviewing, factual investigation, and building client narratives
- Client counseling
- Advocacy in and out of court, verbally and in writing
- Analyzing a complex body of state and federal statutory, regulatory, and case law
- Analyzing state regulation of families and alternatives to the present legal system
- Collaborating with lawyer and non-lawyer partners
- Negotiating on behalf of clients
- Exploring recent child neglect and abuse law reforms
- Reflecting and thinking expansively on the role of lawyers for parents in child neglect and abuse cases and others in the legal system
The Seminar
The clinic seminar introduces student attorneys to key substantive law and lawyering skills necessary for fieldwork. Student attorneys analyze client matters and case strategies. The seminar also provides opportunities to think critically about the structure, operation, and effectiveness of the legal system; the role of attorneys for parents and other parties within that system; and different directions change efforts may take.
Casework
Student attorneys represent individuals facing allegations of abuse or neglect in New York City Family Courts and administrative proceedings. Student attorneys work with clients, the families of clients, service providers, and professionals from a range of disciplines. Casework may include interviewing and counseling clients, investigating cases, preparing court pleadings, negotiating with opposing counsel, and advocating in court or administrative hearings (in evidentiary or other types of hearings). Student attorneys collaborate with their student case partners and with partner legal services organizations.
Advanced clinic students may also engage in one or more systemic advocacy projects supporting efforts to remedy repeated problems in the child neglect and abuse legal system in New York City, New York state, or elsewhere.
Student attorneys have weekly supervision meetings with the professor in which they propose their plans for their cases, and discuss and reflect upon their work and the actions of others in the legal system in their cases.
Important Information
The course is open to eight students. Both J.D. and L.L.M. students are eligible. There are no prerequisites to taking this course, other than a commitment to provide parents with the best possible representation. Clinic students typically have a mandatory all-day orientation (held jointly with other clinics) on the Friday before the semester begins. Interested students are encouraged to contact Professor Josh Gupta-Kagan ([email protected], JGH 825) to discuss the clinic further.
Instructor: Josh Gupta-Kagan, Clinical Professor of Law
Experiential credits: seven credits (three for seminar; four for fieldwork)
Offered in: fall 2024 and spring 2025