Choosing Washburn Law’s Children & Family Law program means benefiting from our comprehensive curriculum, experienced faculty, and extensive opportunities for hands-on learning. Here are some unique advantages of our program:
Earning a certificate in Family Law demonstrates your commitment to this area of practice and equips you with specialized knowledge and skills. The certificate requires completion of specific courses, participation in student activities, pro bono service, hands-on experience and fulfillment of a writing requirement.
Required:
Optional: Select 9 hours total
Complete a pre-approved upper level writing requirement (or equivalent writing project) on a Family Law topic. The upper level writing requirement may be satisfied by the Family Law Seminar, Directed Research, or an alternative writing opportunity approved in advance by the student's certificate advisor.
Students earning a Family Law Certificate must complete a lawyering experience consisting of either the Clinic Internship (Family or Juvenile Law) or an externship that involves a lawyering experience in a family law or juvenile law placement.
Our curriculum includes a wide range of courses that cover essential topics such as domestic violence, child advocacy and family law practice. You can tailor your education to your interests by choosing from a variety of electives. Detailed descriptions of each of these courses, can be found in the academic catalog.
The Children & Family Law Center at Washburn Law is dedicated to preparing students to provide high-quality legal representation for children and to advocate for improved justice for families. The center offers workshops, colloquia, and lectures on current issues in family law, providing opportunities to engage with leading scholars and practitioners. Students also participate in interdisciplinary research and advocacy projects, gaining valuable insights and practical skills.
The center is also a hub for scholarship and community engagement, fostering collaboration between students, faculty, and professionals in the field. This enriches the educational experience and contributes to meaningful improvements in family law practice.
Develop practical skills by representing clients in real cases through the Children and Family Law Clinic. Work on matters such as divorce, child custody, and domestic violence under the guidance of experienced faculty.
Expand your expertise with our dual degree program in law and social work, offered in collaboration with the School of Applied Studies. This program prepares you for professional practice in areas where law and social work intersect, such as mental health, family relations, and juvenile justice.
Combining a J.D. with an MSW equips you with the skills to address complex social and legal issues, enhancing your career opportunities and making you a versatile professional in both fields.
Washburn Law has a long-standing relationship with Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) of Shawnee County. Students regularly serve as advocates, helping to ensure that the best interests of children and youth involved in the court system because of abuse or neglect are being monitored.
As a voice for the more than 1,200 children navigating the child welfare system in Shawnee County CASA volunteers make a lifelong difference in the lives of abused and neglected children. By serving as a CASA volunteers, Washburn Law students not only provide a consistent person/advocate for children who often move from foster home to foster home, school to school, neighborhood to neighborhood, but students also gain experience in working with the court system and the greater child welfare system, improve their communication skills, and strengthen collaboration skills.
Participation as a CASA qualifies a student for pro bono credit, demonstrating to employers a commitment to serve the community.