CENTER ON CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND THE LAW
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
206 S. 13th St., Ste. 1000
Lincoln, NE 68588-0227
Telephone: (402) 472-3479
Website: ccfl.unl.edu
The Center on Children, Families, and the Law (CCFL) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was established in 1987 as a home for interdisciplinary research, teaching, and public service on issues related to child and family policy and services. The knowledge of child and family issues generated and synthesized by the Center faculty is widely disseminated to educate policy makers, scholars, service providers, and the general public. Work done by the Center has served as the primary basis for new local, state, and national legislation and has been cited in court rulings, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Research by faculty in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Law, and Education and Human Sciences is integrated through the Center. Faculty members from the School of Social Work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and various units at the University of Nebraska Medical Center also contribute to Center activities. The Center's own distinguished faculty reflects its interdisciplinary goals, including professionals with degrees in law, psychology, pediatrics, special education, sociology, and education. The Center is located administratively within UNL's College of Arts and Sciences and is a member of the College's Family Research and Policy Initiative.
CIVIL CLINICAL LAW PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COLLEGE OF LAW
172 Welpton Courtroom
P.O. Box 830902
Lincoln, NE 68583-0902
Telephone: (402) 472-3271
Fax: (402) 472-3228
Website: http://law.unl.edu/curriculum#clinics
25% Children's Law
Does Not Use Volunteer Attorneys
The Civil Clinical Law Program at the University of Nebraska College of Law handles approximately children's law cases as part of its General Civil Practice Clinic. Sixty-six students participate in the work of the Clinic each year, including students from other disciplines. Clients are referred from social service agencies, attorneys in the community, and court personnel. In addition to the written materials noted above, the Program also has information on guardianships prepared in 1998. The Program does not handle impact litigation.
NEBRASKA APPLESEED
941 O Street, Ste 920
Lincoln, NE 68508
Telephone: (402) 438-8853
Fax: (402) 438-0263
Email: info@neappleseed.org
Website: neappleseed.org
Does Not Use Volunteer Attorneys
Nebraska Appleseed is a nonprofit organization that fights for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans. The center takes a systemic approach to complex issues – such as child welfare, immigration policy, affordable healthcare and poverty – and they take their work wherever they believe it can do the most good, whether that’s at the courthouse, in the statehouse or in the community. The child welfare program consists of three staff members, two of whom are attorneys. The program is committed to reforming the child welfare system to make sure it is effective for children and families who need its intervention.
Nebraska Appleseed works with government, lawmakers, and communities on better child welfare policies, and sometimes fights to protect the legal rights of children through impact and class action litigation. Nebraska Appleseed also operates the Foster Care Reform Legal Resource Center (LRC), which provides technical assistance, including legal research and amicus briefs, to “frontline” attorneys in juvenile court practice to help them raise systemic issues in their individual cases. Other resources include a listserv, monthly electronic newsletter, access to sample legal documents, a series of policy briefs, publications highlighting child welfare issues, and other relevant resources geared toward the child welfare community.
VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT
NEBRASKA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
635 S. 14th St.
P.O. Box 81809
Lincoln, NE 68501-1809
Telephone: (402) 475-7091
Fax: (402) 475-7098
Website: www.nebar.com
10% Children's Law
Does Use Volunteer Attorneys
The Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) is a statewide volunteer legal services project and referral network founded on the belief that all citizens should have access to the legal system, regardless of ability to pay. Established in 1982 as a project of the Nebraska State Bar Association, VLP seeks to match people who have civil legal problems with attorneys who are willing to provide legal assistance on a pro bono, reduced fee, contingency fee, or full fee basis. Providing pro bono or reduced-fee legal services to those low-income people who need legal assistance is the primary goal of the Program. Any attorney who is an active member of the Nebraska State Bar Association may participate in the program.
Cases are referred from social service agencies, other attorneys, courts and Nebraska Legal Services. Volunteer lawyers are recruited through the bar association, and trainings are provided as needed. One staff attorney, one full-time paralegal and one part-time paralegal distribute a list of cases or call volunteers regarding potential cases, and volunteers are monitored through written requests for updates and self-reporting. Approximately 50 pro bono attorneys each handle one children's law case a year. Volunteer Lawyers Project is willing to handle areas other than those described above depending on the interests of the volunteer lawyers.