The Child Advocacy Clinic (CAC) is part of the St. Vincent de
Paul Legal Program, Inc. It is an in-house, one-semester litigation
and policy reform clinic offering students distinct opportunities
to assist children and caregivers in need:
Child Welfare Practice. Operating in conjunction
with the
Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice, the CAC’s Child
Welfare Practice represents children (newborn-21 years) in family
court cases involving alleged abuse or neglect. Typically, these
are Queens County matters where parents are accused of drug or
alcohol abuse, physical abuse, failure to ensure school attendance,
mental illness, domestic violence, and inadequate
guardianship.
Foster Family Support Initiative. Students
participating in the CAC’s Foster Family Support Initiative
represent kinship foster parents seeking compensation for their
care of special needs foster children. These matters involve
administrative proceedings before the New York State Office of
Children and Family Services.
Immigrant Children’s Justice Project. CAC students
participating in the Immigrant Children’s Justice Project team with
students from the Refugee and Immigrant Rights Clinic to represent
abused, neglected and abandoned children who were apprehended and
placed into federal custody by the Department of Homeland Security.
Students litigate the children’s family court and immigration court
(deportation) cases. They also work on policy reform initiatives at
the state and federal levels.
During the semester, CAC students gain valuable skills and insight
into legal practice as they:
- Interview clients, witnesses and family members
- Work with social services professionals, mental health
providers and others ensuring client well-being
- Conduct factual investigations
- Appear at Family Court hearings and conferences
- Visit residential, educational and/or other client-related
sites
- Research and draft legal documents
- Advocate formally and informally for children and their
caregivers
- Collaborate with St. John’s University and Legal Aid Society
social workers, subject area specialists and other consultants
- Conduct all aspects of pre-trial, trial, and post-dispositional
proceedings in family court
Students in the Clinic also benefit from teaming with Legal Aid
Society mentors. Through mentor shadowing, they observe seasoned
lawyers in court and are further exposed to a variety of
court-related experiences, such as conferences, plea deals, trials,
emergency hearings, witness preparation, pro se proceedings, bench
conferences and diverse litigation and negotiation styles. Mentors
share strategy and practice skills, answer questions and guide
students toward a better understanding of institutional, courthouse
lawyering.
To learn more about the Child Advocacy Clinic at St. John’s School
of Law, please
contact us.