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31 U. Mich. J.L. Reform 1 (1997-1998)
Developing a Child Advocacy Law Clinic: A Law School Clinical Legal Education Opportunity

handle is hein.journals/umijlr31 and id is 13 raw text is: DEVELOPING A CHILD ADVOCACY LAW CLINIC: A LAW SCHOOL CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY Donald N. Duquette* Clinical legal education has become an accepted and integral com- plement to traditional law school curricula. Professor Duquette argues that clinical education is uniquely able to integrate the teach- ing of practical skills and legal doctrine, elevating students' understanding of both. Duquette maintains that a child advocacy law clinic can teach a broad range of practical skill benefit the host- ing law school by providing an opportunity for interdisciplinary education as well as a public relations benefit, while simultaneously serving an important need in most communities for quality represen- tation of all parties in child abuse and neglect cases. Most importantly, participation in a child advocacy law clinic has a pro- found effect on students who must face significant ethical, emotional, and legal issues that require both quick learning and deep reflection. In hopes of aiding other law schools interested in developing a child advocacy clinic Duquette describes the University of Michigan Child Advocacy Law Clini detailing the selection of cases for the represen- tation of children, parents, and social service agencies, the supervision of students; the classroom component of the curriculum, and the staffing and budgeting choices made. * Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Child Advocacy Law Clinic, University of Michigan Law School. B.A. 1969, Michigan State University; J.D. 1974, University of Michigan Law School. I am deeply grateful for my association with this great institution. I thank the four Deans for whom I have worked-Theodore St. An- toine, Terrance Sandalow, Lee Bollinger, and Jeffrey Lehman. Without the intelligent guidance of Professor David Chambers, who co-taught the classroom component of the Child Advocacy Law Clinic (the Clinic) in its early years, the Clinic would not have developed, improved and, thus, survived. For reviewing this manuscript I thank David Chambers; Paul Reingold, director of the Michigan General Clinical Law Program; my teaching colleagues in the Clinic, Suellyn Scarnecchia and Lance Jones; and David Herring, formerly of the Clinic and now founder of the Child Welfare Law Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. My most profound appreciation goes to the over 500 law students who have taken the Child Advocacy Law Clinic over the past 20 years. It has been a privilege to work with these amazingly talented individuals. While some have made careers of child advocacy, most are engaged in more traditional law practices. However, they all tell us that they are better lawyers for having participated in the Clinic. I hope this Article is helpful to law schools and faculty elsewhere who are considering developing similar programs.

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