LAW 7794 - Family Law Practice

This is an introductory course in the legal and practice aspects of family law. The course will be problem-based and practical, permitting law students to know the basic "how to's" for advising about family law problems, and permitting mental health professionals to gain a basic understanding of the legal standards and processes that apply to their clients with family legal issue. Topics include the law of divorce, and child custody, modification of divorce decrees, family violence, paternity, adoption, guardianship, child abuse, neglect and parental termination. Along with mastery of basic family law principles, this course will emphasize critique of existing family law doctrine and policy, and an understanding of the emotional and psychodynamic issues involved in these family law cases."