Boston College Law School gives its students a wide range of classes to take that are taught by some of the best scholars in the field. Yet, while learning about the law in a classroom is crucial to becoming a successful attorney, nothing prepares you for day-to-day practice more than getting hands-on experience before graduating. That’s where BC Law’s clinics come in.

Law students in their second and third years of study can apply for coveted spots in any of the school’s fifteen clinics. No matter what someone’s legal interest is, there’s a clinic for them! To help students better understand the opportunities available to them, the BC Law Impact Blog is highlighting each of these clinics this semester. Here is our interview with the director of the Family Justice Clinic (and BC Law alum) Claire Donohue, who also serves as the director of the school’s social service advocacy program.

Tell us about your clinic!

In the Family Justice Clinic, students advise and represent low-income clients in civil and administrative matters related to family law and child welfare. This means students are in probate and family courts to litigate traditional family law matters: divorce, custody, alimony, and child support. But, we also represent families who have been accused of abuse or neglect and are subject to surveillance and regulation by the state. We even represent kin who have been denied the opportunity to provide kinship foster placements to their grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.

Our students are court-certified as Student Attorneys and handle all phases of their clients’ cases, from client interviewing and case planning to fact investigation, discovery, client counseling, negotiation, and courtroom advocacy. We also work closely with masters of social work students to provide responsive, holistic representation to our clients.