Civil Justice Clinic

Faculty: Annette Appell, Joshua Gupta-Kagan, Kathryn Pierce, and Mae Quinn
Civil Justice Clinic News: [view] 
To view the latest brochure article, click here 

The Civil Justice Clinic (CJC) is one of several "live client" representation clinics housed within Washington University School of Law’s clinical education program. For over a decade, the CJC has responded to the legal needs of the community, built upon the expertise of its teaching faculty, and engaged the interests of our students, changing its focus and collaborative partnerships over time. As a result, the CJC has taken on a range of important civil legal issues throughout the years, including housing and homelessness, consumer rights, public benefits, and domestic relations.

Beginning in 2009, the CJC turned its attention to youth and family advocacy, joining forces with others on the local, regional, and national levels to deliver justice to children, juveniles, and parents. In a very short time, the CJC has enjoyed many successes in the youth and family advocacy arena as our student attorneys have not only achieved significant outcomes for individual clients, but engaged in important systemic reform work. Given the growing demand for our services and the range of opportunities available to our student attorneys, the CJC has established two distinct projects and clinical course offerings: The Children and Family Defense Project and The Juvenile Rights and Re-Entry Project.

The Children and Family Defense Project

Student attorneys enrolled in the Children and Family Defense Project represent children, parents, and other kin in child welfare matters.  Consistent with our commitment to holistic representation and to the improvement of justice for disadvantaged children and families, students may also perform advocacy regarding a variety of issues, including custody, guardianship, paternity, domestic violence, adoption, and termination of parental rights in trial and appellate courts and in administrative and legislative fora. Students may also work on national law reform efforts affecting the welfare and liberty interests of children and families. The Children and Family Defense Project is taught by Annette Appell and Joshua Gupta-Kagan.  Beginning summer 2013, Kathryn Pierce will be rejoining the Children and Family Defense Project.

For more information about the Children and Family Defense Project, click here.

STUDENTS: Click here to view information about the Civil Justice Clinic - Children and Family Defense. This handout provides general information that will be helpful for you to know before registering.

The Juvenile Rights and Re-Entry Project

Student attorneys enrolled in the Juvenile Rights and Re-Entry Project will provide representation to young people in the St. Louis area, acting as lead counsel on a range of youth advocacy matters.  In 2013-14 we plan to focus on three practice areas: (1) St. Louis City Juvenile Court cases; (2) post-Miller juvenile life without parole sentence challenges; and (3) medical/legal partnership matters referred to us by our Medical School partners at The Spot. Given our unique, holistic approach to representation, our legal and other work on behalf of clients may take us beyond the courthouse to the education law and school discipline arenas, administrative proceedings, and appellate courts. Students can also register for additional credits to engage in policy and public citizen lawyering projects on behalf of young people.  The Juvenile Rights and Re-Entry Project is taught by Mae Quinn.

For more information about the Juvenile Rights and Re-Entry Project, click here.

STUDENTS: Click here to view information about the Civil Justice Clinic - Juvenile Rights and Re-Entry Project. This handout provides general information that will be helpful for you to know before registering.