Domestic Violence Litigation Clinic

The Domestic Violence Litigation Clinic requires a one year commitment from the accepted student.  Students represent clients in family offense cases, seeking orders of protection and other dispositions including custody and visitation issues arising out of family offense cases. Under the supervision of clinical faculty students practice as attorneys pursuant to a student practice order, handling all aspects of each case from inception to final disposition. Students will often conduct client interviews, negotiate settlements, make court appearances, and where indicated, conduct trials in Family Court.

The majority of clinical work will be performed at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) office located on 59th Street in the midtown Manhattan office.  NYLAG is a not for profit organization providing free legal assistance to individuals throughout the metropolitan area.  St. John’s has partnered with the NYLAG to provide supervision, resources and cases for the DVL Clinic.  Students work on cases being heard in any New York City Family Court.

Clinical students must participate in the Domestic Violence Litigation Clinic Seminar.  This seminar covers trial advocacy skills, lawyering skills and substantive areas of law likely to be encountered in DVL Clinic cases.  In the Fall semester, the seminar meets once a week for two hours.  In the Spring semester, the seminar is held every other week for three hours, to allow students more flexibility as their cases “heat up”. Most of the seminar classes are held at the law school however, occasionally seminars may be held at the NYLAG office.  Students are also required to participate in weekly “case rounds” sessions at the law school with Professor Gould and attend frequent meetings with Professor Susser in the NYLAG office.

This Clinic is open to second and third year students who will receive a total of eight (8) credits for the year (4 credits per semester with 2 letter graded credits and 2 pass/fail credits per semester).

All clinical students must complete evidence and trial advocacy either prior to or during the year in which they take the DVL Clinic.  Applicants are urged to take the intensive trial advocacy course, pre-trial advocacy, family law, and the sexual assault seminar.