Curriculum and Student Information

Concentration in Family Law

The National Center for Family Law offers law students at the University of Richmond the opportunity to earn a Certificate of Concentration in Family Law to be awarded at graduation along with the J.D. diploma. Transcripts will also reflect completion of the concentration program.

Earning the Certificate of Concentration in Family Law is similar to completing a major as an undergraduate. A student must take a basic family law course and a certain number of credits from other Family Law related courses. Students seeking the Certificate of Concentration in Family Law will meet their upper level writing requirement by writing on a family law related subject.

Application for Certification in Family Law due by 5 p.m. on the first Friday in April.

Certificate of Concentration Requirements

Total Family Law Credits Required: Each student must take a total of 24 credits from family law concentration courses or those identified as related.

Required Courses

Each student must take the following courses:

  •     Family Law (3)
  •     Ethical Issues in Family Law (2)
  •     An approved clinic (5-7)
  •     An upper level writing requirement (2)

Target Courses 

Each student must take at least one of the following courses:

  •     Alternative Dispute Resolution (2)
  •     Negotiations (2)
  •     Interviewing & Counseling (2)

Family Law Concentration Classes

Students may count any of the following toward completion of the concentration requirements except as otherwise indicated:

  •     Family Law (3 credit hours) – required
  •     Advanced Family Law Seminar (2) (satisfies upper level writing requirement)
  •     Muslim Family Law (3)
  •     Role of the Lawyer in Mediation (2)
  •     Children & the Law (3)
  •     Education Law (2)
  •     Child Support & Enforcement (2)
  •     Domestic Violence Seminar (2) (satisfies upper level writing requirement)
  •     Sexual Orientation and the Law (2)
  •     Estate Planning (2)
  •     Wills and Trusts (4)
  •     Estate and Gift Tax (2)
  •     Bioethics (2)
  •     Income Tax (4)
  •     Marriage, Money, and the Law (3)
  •     Collaborative law (2)
  •     Family Law Clinic (6)
  •     Disability Law Clinic (6)
  •     Delinquency Clinic (6)
  •     Advanced Children’s Law Clinic (2 – 6)
  •     Clinical Placement Program (5 – 7) [selected approved placements only] 

  •     Focus on the Family (3) (satisfies upper level writing requirement)


Credit for independent studies, research assistance, family law moot court competitions, and courses taught outside the Richmond School of Law may be approved as sufficiently related to family law by the director of the National Center for Family Law in consultation with the associate dean for academic affairs.

Grade Point Average

Certificates will be awarded only to those who achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all family law concentration classes taken. Students whose GPA is 3.5 or higher in concentration courses will earn the certificate "with distinction."

National Center for Family Law

Adrienne Volenik, acting director
28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, VA 23173
(804) 289-8921
avolenik@richmond.edu

Edward D. Barnes, chair
Centre Court - Suite A
9401 Courthouse Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832
(804) 414-1600