Introduction to Children's Law, Policy and Practice
Corequisites: MJ students should take LAW 667 in conjunction with LAW 665.
This required course is designed to give students an introductory overview of the law as it affects children. It begins with a discussion of the constitutional relationship among children, parents and the state, as well as the respective roles of the federal and state governments in the regulation of children and families. The course then introduces students to the principal areas of civil and criminal law that affect children and families. With this baseline of understanding, students can choose elective courses that provide a more in-depth study of a particular topic (e.g. education law, child welfare, etc.).
Outcomes: Create a community of learners and leverage shared experiences in an online forum; Understand the difference between rights granted to adults compared to children; Apply leading US Supreme Court cases affecting children's law through discussions and course writing assignments; Remember Juvenile Court's jurisdiction over: 1) abused/neglected/dependent youth, 2) delinquent children, and 3) children who commit status offenses; Evaluate general facets of educational law including students' rights, schools' rights, and private education; Analyze general facets of mental health law including voluntary and involuntary treatment or institutionalization of minors; Understand general facets of family law including marriage, divorce, child support, and "best interest" custody determinations; Evaluate general facets of children's international law and international treaties affecting children, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; Remember ethical and liability issues in practice including areas such as confidentiality, record-keeping, responses to a subpoena, and testifying as an expert; Create ways to be a trauma-informed advocate and understand expectations in the courtroom when testifying as an expert witness or lay person.
This required course is designed to give students an introductory overview of the law as it affects children. It begins with a discussion of the constitutional relationship among children, parents and the state, as well as the respective roles of the federal and state governments in the regulation of children and families. The course then introduces students to the principal areas of civil and criminal law that affect children and families. With this baseline of understanding, students can choose elective courses that provide a more in-depth study of a particular topic (e.g. education law, child welfare, etc.).
Outcomes: Create a community of learners and leverage shared experiences in an online forum; Understand the difference between rights granted to adults compared to children; Apply leading US Supreme Court cases affecting children's law through discussions and course writing assignments; Remember Juvenile Court's jurisdiction over: 1) abused/neglected/dependent youth, 2) delinquent children, and 3) children who commit status offenses; Evaluate general facets of educational law including students' rights, schools' rights, and private education; Analyze general facets of mental health law including voluntary and involuntary treatment or institutionalization of minors; Understand general facets of family law including marriage, divorce, child support, and "best interest" custody determinations; Evaluate general facets of children's international law and international treaties affecting children, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; Remember ethical and liability issues in practice including areas such as confidentiality, record-keeping, responses to a subpoena, and testifying as an expert; Create ways to be a trauma-informed advocate and understand expectations in the courtroom when testifying as an expert witness or lay person.