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Family Law Schools in California
Prospective law students interested in this field should research accredited law schools in California with specialized training programs and clinics.
How to Study Family Law, Child Advocacy
Internships and undergraduate coursework are a couple of ways to create a career path in family law.
IF YOU EXCEL AT counseling and negotiation and are interested in working closely with clients, often in emotionally charged situations, you may consider a career in family law or child advocacy.
Lawyers who practice in this area mediate, counsel and litigate a wide variety of matters in many subject areas, including estate planning, divorce, spousal support, parental rights, custody, child support, paternity, dependency, and neglect and adoption.
Such diverse and varied opportunities make family law and child advocacy attractive practice areas for prospective law school students. Regardless of economic trends, the political landscape or policy and regulatory changes, family law remains a practice area that is in constant need of committed legal advocates.
If you plan to pursue a career in this field, consider schools that offer specialized training and clinic options when choosing a law school, and take advantage of opportunities to gain relevant experience.
Best Law schools in California
Most law schools offer some coursework in family law and related areas, enabling students to learn the basics. In addition, some law schools have specialized course options or training programs that allow students to focus on family law and learn this area of law in a more in-depth way.
For example, students in Columbia Law School’s J.D. program can choose from a wide variety of courses in family law and related practice areas. Topics covered include basic and advanced family law and domestic violence, for instance. Columbia also hosts a yearly conference relating to child and family advocacy.
Several other schools offer a concentration area in family law. At the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University—Bloomington, for example, if students focus on family law, they will study key issues including divorce, same-sex marriage, abortion, gender roles and property division.
At the DePaul University College of Law, students can earn a certificate in family law as part of the J.D. program. The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University offers an LL.M. program in family law, and Loyola University Chicago offers an LL.M. program in child and family law that students can pursue on either a full- or part-time basis.
These schools also offer students the opportunity to participate in organizations and activities related to family law, such as the Child & Family Law Association at DePaul and the Family Law Society at Indiana. These organizations allow for engagement in the subject matter beyond the confines of the classroom.
Law Schools with family Law Clinics
In addition to concentrations, coursework and specialized programming, clinics and public law schools in California provide an excellent opportunity for law students to gain hands-on experience in casework and client advocacy in particular areas of law.
Many of the above-mentioned schools also offer clinic options in family law and related areas of study. Columbia, for example, offers a few clinics in areas such as adolescent representation, sexuality and gender law, and incarceration, all of which touch on issues related to family law.
Many other schools that do not offer a family law focus or concentration provide students with experiential learning opportunities and clinic options.
Harvard Law School, for example, offers a Family Law and Domestic Violence Law Clinic. The University of Virginia School of Law has a Family Law Clinic that focuses on mediation, negotiation and creative problem-solving as alternative dispute resolution methods to resolve conflicts in families.
The New York University School of Law offers the Family Defense Clinic and the Juvenile Defender Clinic. The former centers its work on preventing the unnecessary breakup of indigent families and assisting in the reuniting of families touched by the foster care system. In the latter clinic, students represent juveniles charged with committing crimes.
Pre Law Requirements
Aside from selecting a school with ample coursework, programming and clinic opportunities in family law from which to choose, you should also think about other ways to create a path to a successful career in this area.
Law Degree Requirement
Consider a major or a minor in subjects like psychology or human development. Any classes that focus on development of interpersonal skills or an understanding of how people think and operate in life will help you thrive as a family law attorney.
Legal volunteer work for students
Seek out opportunities to intern or volunteer for organizations that advocate for families or children, or look to strengthen key skills, such as counseling and oral communication. You could look for internships in family court, for example, or for social service providers. Another option could be to shadow attorneys who practice family law.
Whatever you choose to do, take time to explore whether you enjoy working closely with people in stressful and emotionally trying situations.
• Seek mentors: Network with practitioners in the field and ask for advice and guidance. Develop trusting relationships in which you can take an honest look at your suitability for this kind of work.
• Self-educate: Keep up with current trends in family law by reading related legal publications such as Family Law Quarterly and Family Advocate. As cultural norms shift and the definition of family evolves, the field also changes. It is in your interest to stay abreast of developments.
If you are thinking about a career in family law and related fields, consider specialized programming and clinic opportunities when choosing a law school. In addition, you should get involved in related organizations and look to acquire meaningful and relevant experience so that you are an attractive clinic candidate and are well-positioned for employment prospects in law school and beyond.
Best Family Law Schools in the US
If you are thinking about practicing family law, keep reading. Not much can prepare you for a family law case other than actual experience. But the best family law schools in the country are going to offer more than a class or two on common topics in family law. Instead, they’ll feature family law clinics, certificate programs, extensive course offerings on relevant topics, and possibly even some surprises like visits to divorce court.
I’ve heard it said quite a few times that there are two attorneys you never want to meet with: your bankruptcy attorney and your divorce attorney. I can’t really argue with the logic of that statement.
I practiced family law for almost three years. It’s a crazy area to practice. If you want to go to court, a lot, consider family law. If you want to practice in an area of law that will never dry up, consider family law.
Here’s the catch, you will never know what kinds of emotions you are going to deal with in a “typical” family law case until you actually do one. So, if you’re dead set on getting into family law, you should probably pick a school that has ample opportunity for you to experience it.
Here are some of the best Family Law schools in the US.
1. Columbia University School of Law
Columbia University School of Law in New York has one of the best family law programs around. Not only do they offer a bunch of classes that deal with various family law subjects, they have three clinics that deal with family law issues. They also host a yearly conference, and have done so for the past 30 years, centering on child and family advocacy, and prisoners and family issues as well.
2. Indiana University Law School
Indiana University Bloomington also has a lot to offer. They have over 15 courses that deal with family law issues. Those classes include gender and the law, children and the law, and many others. In addition, they also offer three clinics, numerous legal journals, several student groups, and various other projects that deal with relevant issues in family law today.
3. DePaul University Law School
If you attend DePaul, you will be able to obtain a family law certificate, which requires students to take a minimum amount of family law related classes and related clinics. You can be sure that you’ll receive a targeted education in family law issues if you participate in this program.
4. Hofstra University Law School
Hofstra also gives students the ability to declare a concentration of study in the area of family law. This is very similar to DePaul University’s family law certification. The school also offers some high level professional development for students interested in family law.
5. University of Colorado School of Law
Last but not least is the University of Colorado. Like the previous two schools. they also offer a certificate program. They also have a juvenile law clinic, and a family law clinic, both of which do a great job preparing law students for the life of a family law attorney.
Top Family Law Programs
Family law programs are also particularly strong at these universities:
| School Name | Location | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | Interested students can gain hands-on experience through the Family and Domestic Violence Law Clinic |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead, NY | The LL.M. program in family law is unique to the eastern U.S. and one of only a few such programs in the nation |
| Loyola University | Chicago, IL | Offers an LLM in Child and Family Law program on a full-time or part-time basis, with some online classes |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | Hands-on practice is available through the Children’s Rights and Family Law Clinic |
| University of California – Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | The Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy offers study in family and economic security |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | Boulder, CO | Offers a juvenile and family law track |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | The Levin College of Law hosts the Center on Children and Families |
| University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | Students can gain experience by providing free legal services to victims of domestic violence through the Family Law Project |
| University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | Hosts a Domestic Violence Clinic and the Child Advocacy Project |
Aspiring lawyers seeking careers in family law can find academic programs with hands-on training opportunities through top law schools around the country.
Top Family Law Programs: List of Top U.S. Schools
School Overviews
Aspiring and experienced lawyers can find training programs that allow them to focus on family law. Both Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs may offer a concentration or coursework in family law, or they can get real-world training through legal clinics.
Top family law programs are offered by the law schools at Columbia University and Indiana University – Bloomington. These schools offer substantial family law coursework and law clinics related to family law issues. Indiana University and DePaul University both offer a concentration area in family law in addition to a family law clinic. Each of these law schools was nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for 2017.
Columbia University in New York, NY
U.S. News & World Report ranked Columbia University 4th among law schools for 2017. Students in Columbia Law School’s J.D. and LL.M. programs may choose from a wide variety of available coursework in family law. Topics include trusts and estates, Jewish law, welfare law, and domestic violence. Three law clinics related to family law are available to students who are accepted into the clinical education program. These clinics cover topics in sexuality and gender law, prisoners and families, and adolescent representation.
Indiana University in Bloomington, IN
For 2017, Indiana University was tied for #25 among all law schools, per U.S. News & World Report. J.D. students at the Maurer School of Law can choose the family law area of focus. This focus includes the study of family law issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion, gender roles, adoption, divorce, and division of property. Second- and third-year law students can gain experience in the Viola J. Taliaferro Family and Children Mediation Clinic. Graduate and joint-degree programs are also available.
DePaul University in Chicago, IL
As part of the J.D. program at DePaul University, students can earn a certificate in child and family law as part of the J.D. program. In addition to a basic course in family law, students must also complete an independent study project and take at least one practice-based course. One option for meeting this practicum requirement is to participate in the school’s family law clinic. Aside from formal coursework, DePaul students may also join the campus-based Child & Family Law Association. For 2017, DePaul’s law school was nationally ranked at #111 by U.S. News & World Report.
Conclusion
The biggest takeaway I can give you from this post is that you NEED to get some practical experience before you decide to become a family law attorney. Each of these schools can offer you that. However, even if you decide to go to a different law school, you still have opportunities for internships and pro bono work.
Trust me, if you try out a clinic, class, or get a part time job working for a family law firm, and it turns out you absolutely hate it. You’ll thank me that you didn’t get stuck with a family law job out of law school.
If it turns out that you love it (I happen to fall into this category), then you’ll know, and have a head start in your job search after law school.
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