Child and Family Law Certificate
Prepare to defend those least able to defend themselves.
If justice for children and their families is driving your passion for the law, the Certificate in Child and Family Law can help focus your studies and your career.
Loyola offers an extensive array of courses in child and family law, including courses on child welfare, domestic relations, juvenile justice, education, and children’s human rights. And your participation in either the Law School clinical offerings or volunteer, credited, or other employment opportunities will provide the “hands-on” experience to give you the skills to advocate for those most in need.
Curriculum
There are three requirements for the Child and Family Law Certificate: coursework; practical experience; and extracurricular activities.
You must complete at least 12 credit hours, including two required courses and two electives, in the child and family law curriculum and must receive a grade of B or better in each course.
Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | 4-5 | |
Child, Family, and the State | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
Education Law and Policy | ||
Juvenile Justice | ||
Electives (choose at least two) | 7-8 | |
Education Law Practicum | ||
The Fundamentals of School Law | ||
Domestic Violence Practicum | ||
Family Law | ||
Human Trafficking: Advancing Protections for Children Practicum | ||
Immigration Law and Policy | ||
Special Education Law and Advocacy | ||
Mediation Seminar | ||
Education Law and Policy | ||
Student Disciplinary Hearing Workshop | ||
ChildLaw Trial Practice (Intensive) | ||
Legislation and Policy Clinic | ||
Juvenile Justice | ||
Child and Family Law Mediation | ||
Policy Practicum: Issues in Childlaw | ||
Civitas ChildLaw Clinic | ||
Children's Legal Rights Executive Journal Editor | ||
Chldrn Leg Rights Jrnl Assoc Editors | ||
Children's Legal Rights Journal Senior Editors | ||
Children's Summer Institute | ||
Child Welfare Law and Policy | ||
Family Law and Policy | ||
International Children's Rights | ||
Children's Health Law and Policy | ||
Family Law | ||
Mental Health Law | ||
Disability Law | ||
Total Hours | 12 |
Suggested Sequence of Courses
There is no sequence of courses required for this certificate. Students should consult their advisor to craft a plan for completion of requirements.
Practical Experience
To earn the certificate, you must complete at least one experiential learning requirement. This experience may be satisfied through participation in the ChildLaw Clinic,1 Legislation and Policy Clinic,1 or other “hands-on” experience in the field of child and family law. Other “hands-on” experience must be approved in advance by the ChildLaw Program Coordinator.
- 1
One semester of Clinic experience cannot be used to satisfy both the coursework and practical experience requirements. You may, however, meet both requirements by taking two semesters of either of the two Clinics, or alternatively, by successfully completing one semester each of the Civitas ChildLaw Clinic and the Legislation and Policy Clinic.
Extracurricular Activities
Additionally, you must participate in six or more activities sponsored by the Civitas ChildLaw Center, including attendance at conferences, symposia, or the weekly Coffee Talk Series. Participation as a member (including editors and executive staff) of the Children’s Legal Rights Journal counts as one extracurricular activity. Students should keep a record of their fulfillment of this requirement, which will be verified by the Program Coordinator. Students should meet with the Program Coordinator over the course of law school to confirm that their activities meet this requirement.
Applying for your Certificate
After satisfaction of all your requirements, you must complete an application for the Certificate in Child and Family Law, and submit it to the Program Coordinator at gsanch3@luc.edu.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Each student graduating with the Certificate in Child and Family Law must demonstrate:
- competence in child and family law as covered by the Child, Family, and the State course
- competence in the breadth of laws, policies, and practices that are intended to serve children and families and the ways in which they may sometimes cause harm
- competence in the skills needed to represent clients in child and family law matters, including interviewing, counseling, negotiating, and communicating with clients, supervising attorneys, and other individuals or partners, whether in a litigation or policy and legislation context
- competence in identifying and addressing ethical issues in child and family law issues
- competence in identifying and addressing the impact of racial, ethnic, and other inequities on children and families in existing or proposed practices, policies, and laws