LAW 896TUT - Family Violence & Women’s Rights Clinic

In the U.S., one in three women and one in four men within their lifetime has been a victim of physical violence by an intimate partner. Erie County has high rates of domestic violence and child abuse, with the second highest number of intimate partner homicides in New York outside of New York City. Students are invited to join the fight towards attaining justice and safety for victims of intimate partner violence. Students will gain a holistic understanding of the complex set of laws and courts that govern family violence practice in New York State and Erie County. Student attorneys will have the opportunity to conduct client and witness interviews, negotiate with opposing counsel, and argue before Judges and Court Attorney Referees. Students will conduct case specific legal research, develop case theories, collect evidence, draft and argue motions, and in some cases, may take a case to trial. Students will develop practice- oriented skills such as client counseling, client interviewing, negotiation and petition drafting through in class simulations. Students may deliver family violence related legal education to advocacy coalitions in Western New York. Students will gain firsthand knowledge about the multidisciplinary team approach to domestic violence cases through attending community coalition meetings and working in partnership with local domestic violence organizations. Students will learn from local experts and gain insight into statewide legislative reform in the field of family violence. Students may participate in legislator education sessions in Albany and/or Erie County.

Credits: 1-6