Become a Fierce Advocate for Children

Practicing in the area of children and the law takes compassion, empathy, and fortitude. But it also takes finely honed legal skills, insight, and experience. To help our students prepare, we bring together doctrinal courses and clinical work throughout the curriculum, giving you the time and opportunity to become confident, fierce legal advocates in and out of court.

Explore Children and the Law

Child Advocacy Law Clinic
Child Welfare Appellate Clinic
Juvenile Justice Clinic
Pediatric Advocacy Clinic
Student Rights Project
Legal Advocates for Children and Youth

Featured Courses

You will begin by building a foundation of knowledge in civil procedure, criminal law, and legal practice—that’s standard for every first-year student. But as you progress through your course of study, you will have the opportunity to take courses focused on topics such as family law, education law, and litigation. 



You will also have the chance to gain practical experience through our clinical program—which includes the oldest child welfare law clinic in the country—student advocacy organizations, and pro bono opportunities.

See All Related Courses
Child Advocacy Clinic
910
Child Advocacy Clinic Seminar
911
Family Law
673
Juvenile Justice Clinic
952
Juvenile Justice Clinic Seminar
953
Peacemaking in State Court Justice Systems
773
Pediatric Advocacy Clinic
958
Pediatric Advocacy Clinic Seminar
959

Faculty

Timothy Pinto, Clinical Assistant Professor of Law

Timothy M. Pinto

  • Clinical Professor of Law
  • Child Welfare Appellate Clinic
  • Legal Practice Program
Frank Vandervort, Clinical Professor of Law

Frank E. Vandervort

  • Clinical Professor of Law
  • Co-director, 1L Advocacy Clinic
  • Child Advocacy Law Clinic
Kim Thomas, Clinical Professor of Law

Kimberly A. Thomas

  • Clinical Professor of Law
  • Director, Juvenile Justice Clinic
  • Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic
Vivek Sankaran, Clinical Professor of Law

Vivek S. Sankaran

  • Clinical Professor of Law
  • 1L Advocacy Clinic
  • Director, Child Advocacy Law Clinic
  • Director, Child Welfare Appellate Clinic
Katie Louras

Katie Louras

  • Clinical Fellow
  • Juvenile Justice Clinic
See All Faculty

Featured Scholarship

"Mandated Reporting of Child Maltreatment"

An Introduction to the Medical Evaluation of Child Maltreatment
  • Children and the Law

"Michigan's Youth Justice Reform: A Potholed But Sure Road To Change"

South Carolina Law Review
WWWHEIN
  • Children and the Law

"The ties that bind us: An empirical, clinical, and constitutional argument against terminating parental rights"

Family Court Review
WWW
  • Children and the Law

"Commentary: The Legal System Response to Child Maltreatment"

Child Maltreatment
WWW
  • Children and the Law
See All Scholarship

News

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Also of Interest

Civil Rights
Health Law
Public Interest Law