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

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses		4-5
LAW 601	Child, Family, and the State
Select one of the following:
LAW 461	Education Law and Policy
LAW 608	Juvenile Justice
Electives (choose at least two)		7-8
LAW 166	Education Law Practicum
LAW 198	The Fundamentals of School Law
LAW 215	Domestic Violence Practicum
LAW 245	Family Law
LAW 249	Human Trafficking: Advancing Protections for Children Practicum
LAW 366	Immigration Law and Policy
LAW 426	Special Education Law and Advocacy
LAW 456	Mediation Seminar
LAW 461	Education Law and Policy
LAW 578	Student Disciplinary Hearing Workshop
LAW 602	ChildLaw Trial Practice (Intensive)
LAW 606	Legislation and Policy Clinic
LAW 608	Juvenile Justice
LAW 615	Child and Family Law Mediation
LAW 617	Policy Practicum: Issues in Childlaw
LAW 620	Civitas ChildLaw Clinic
LAW 643	Children's Legal Rights Executive Journal Editor
LAW 644	Chldrn Leg Rights Jrnl Assoc Editors
LAW 645	Children's Legal Rights Journal Senior Editors
LAW 663	Children's Summer Institute
LAW 670	Child Welfare Law and Policy
LAW 672	Family Law and Policy
LAW 678	International Children's Rights
LAW 679	Children's Health Law and Policy
LAW 689	Family Law
LAW 717	Mental Health Law
LAW 760	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 supercede school policies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Each student graduating with the Certificate in Child and Family Law must demonstrate:

1. competence in child and family law as covered by the Child, Family, and the State course
2. 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
3. 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
4. competence in identifying and addressing ethical issues in child and family law issues
5. 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