Child Advocacy Clinic
University of Virginia School of Law
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Telephone: 434) 924-7354
Website: www.law.virginia.edu/html/academics/practical/childadvocacy.htm
100% Children's Law
Law students from the University of Virginia work as volunteers with JustChildren. Students represent low-income children statewide who have problems with the education, foster care and juvenile justice systems. Students are supervised by two full-time and two part-time attorneys for approximately 20 to 30 cases a year. The project works with volunteer psychologists and employs a community education coordinator. Although the project does not currently work with volunteer attorneys, they could use volunteers to assist with research.
JustChildren does accept calls from children and the public seeking legal information. It also has a manual for parents entitled Helping You Help Your Child, which explains the rights of children to a variety of services, and effective advocacy strategies.
Children's Law Clinics
University of Richmond
28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, VA 23173
Telephone: (804) 287-6468
Fax: (804) 287-6489
Website: https://law.richmond.edu/academics/clinics-skills/in-house/
100% Children's Law
Does Not Use Volunteer Attorneys
The Children's Defense Clinic (formerly the Delinquency Clinic) is a litigation-oriented clinic that focuses on the needs of "at-risk" children and adolescents. Clinic students advocate on behalf of children appearing before area juvenile courts. In the majority of cases, students serve as defense counsel for youth accused of delinquency (criminal) offenses. Students are also occasionally assigned to work as guardians ad litem on other cases which involve children's issues, such as abuse and neglect.
Law students in the Education Rights Clinic (formerly the Disability Law Clinic) represent children and parents seeking appropriate special education and community-based services mandated by both federal and state law. Students also represent youth with mental disabilities who are before the juvenile court or are incarcerated or institutionalized. Clinic students may be appointed guardians ad litem for children with mental health needs in the justice system.
The Jeanette Lipman Family Law Clinic is an in-house clinic that provides legal assistance to families and children in the City of Richmond. Areas of representation include divorce, custody, visitation, domestic violence, foster care, public benefits and housing.