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

Katie Louras

Katie Louras

  • Clinical Fellow
  • Juvenile Justice Clinic
Timothy Pinto, Clinical Assistant Professor of Law

Timothy M. Pinto

  • Clinical Professor of Law
  • Child Welfare Appellate Clinic
  • Legal Practice Program
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
Kim Thomas, Clinical Professor of Law

Kimberly A. Thomas

  • Clinical Professor of Law
  • Director, Juvenile Justice Clinic
  • Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic
Frank Vandervort, Clinical Professor of Law

Frank E. Vandervort

  • Clinical Professor of Law
  • Co-director, 1L Advocacy Clinic
  • Child Advocacy Law Clinic
See All Faculty
Featured Scholarship

Preventing Child Abuse: Critical Roles and Multiple Perspectives

  • Children and the Law

"Preventing Child Maltreatment Through Medical-Legal Partnership"

Preventing Child Abuse: Critical Roles and Multiple Perspectives
MLaw Repository
  • Children and the Law

"Breaking Down the Silos that Harm Children: A Call to Child Welfare, Domestic Violence and Family Court Professionals"

GWU Legal Studies Research Paper
WWW HEIN
  • Children and the Law

Children's Justice: How to Improve Legal Representation of Children in the Child Welfare System

MLaw RepositoryWWW
  • Children and the Law
See All Scholarship

News

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Also of Interest

Civil Rights
Health Law
Public Interest Law