Children's Law Center

As part of the National Center for Family Law, the University of Richmond School of Law houses the Children's Law Center (CLC-UR), which operates two entry-level clinics and one advanced clinic, in which students, under the supervision of law school faculty members, represent clients and work on actual policy issues.

The CLC-UR has its own facilities within the law school that include videotape capability, student carrels, an interview room, and a conference room.

Clinics

CLC-UR clinics enable students to represent clients through every phase of a client’s interaction, from the initial client interview, through the resolution of the client's problem. The process often may require the student to draft a legal document, settle a dispute, or even litigate.

As part of the law school's integrated skills program, CLC-UR clinics build upon and reinforce work performed in traditional courses as well as simulation-based courses. In addition to advanced skills training, the clinical setting provides students with an opportunity to apply these skills in real-life situations.

CLC-UR clinics also allow law students to question the assumptions inherent in the practice of law, specifically within the context of children's law.

Finally, CLC-UR clinics focus on issues of professionalism and professional responsibility as students prepare to become members of the bar.  Ethics, professionalism, and practical representation take on new dimensions when they are applied to real clients with real problems. Through the clinics, students gain a true sense of what it means to be a professional—from managing their time and planning case strategy, to and recognizing and resolving ethical dilemmas as they arise.

Clinics offer the chance to explore working relationships, whether with a work partner, a supervisor, a client, or opposing counsel. Students often find these interactions to be one of the most important parts of their clinical experience, as they provide the opportunity to discover how multiple approaches may be employed in similar situations.

Students find that the relationships they establish with their clients gives added meaning and purpose to both their time in the clinic, as well as to their work in their other courses. They also find that the clinic provides a valuable opportunity to explore the practical application of theories discussed the classroom and to examine the real-world development and implementation of policies.

Students may enroll in the Education Rights Clinic (formerly the Disability Law Clinic) or Children's Defense Clinic (formerly the Delinquency Clinic) for six credit hours. Credit hours earned in these clinics are not applicable towards the graduation requirement of 86 hours of non-law work. Credit-hours are, however, included in the 12 clinical hours that can be applied toward graduation. Letter grades are awarded for work in CLC-UR clinics. Preference for enrollment is given to third-year students.