Family
Law Program
During the summer of 2002, Chicago-Kent College of Law established
a clinical program in Family Law. The program represents clients
in the matters of legal separation, divorce, child support, child
custody, visitation, guardianships and other related domestic relations
issues. The family law clinic operates on a sliding fee scale basis,
depending on the financial circumstances of the parties.
Because families remain in need of services for custody, dissolution
of marriage, visitation issues, guardianships, estate plans, juvenile
court proceedings, and many more issues, there will continue to be expanding
fields of employment for graduates of Chicago-Kent College of Law.
The Family Law Clinic is designed to give a real-world experience,
hands-on practice, and a basic level of comfort in the practice
of family law. Participating students will have the practical
experience of interviewing office clients, of using the interview
to determine what pleadings should be drafted and filed, of drafting
those pleadings and of using effective negotiation and trial strategies
under the supervision of the supervising attorney. Students will
learn the structure of a Family Law case, the various courts which
are involved, and they will file actual pleadings and attend court
hearings. Those students eligible for a 711 license will argue
motions and attend status calls and short hearings on behalf of
clients. At the weekly class meetings, students will discuss what
is happening in their cases, how they are responding to clients'
needs, and devising strategies for proceeding in the case as well
as what they have seen and heard in the courtroom.
Participating students are provided a portfolio of materials to use when
they actually begin to practice in this area of the law. They acquire,
for example, forms and instructions for practicing in Domestic Relations,
Probate, Domestic Violence Court and other relevant courtrooms. They learn
how to check the dockets in various courtrooms as well as procedures for
filing motions, stamping copies, paying fees, etc., the knowledge of which
will help them when they begin to practice. As they do this, they also
begin to integrate what they have learned in several law school classes,
and apply that knowledge to solve real world problems.
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