Domestic Relations

General Advice

The field of domestic relations encompasses a range of issues, which affect directly or indirectly every member of the family unit. Problems related to formation of the marriage relationship, marriage dissolution, custody of children, termination of parental rights, domestic violence, children and the law, adoptions, foster care, family privacy and juvenile delinquency are representative of some of the problems related to this area of law.

The basic family law course, Family Law: Marriage, Divorce, and Child Custody, with Evidence, Trial Advocacy I, Civil Practice and Client Counseling, provide the basic theoretical and practical foundation. However, because of the complex issues which often arise in contested and non-contested divorce settlements, students are also encouraged to enroll in such courses as Real Estate Transactions, Business Associations, Bankruptcy and the ERISA and Employee Benefits seminar.

Students who are interested in children's issues are encouraged to enroll in Child, Parent, and State, Juvenile Delinquency and the Child Abuse and Neglect seminar. The Juvenile Delinquency course focuses on the juvenile court system and procedures pursuant to delinquency and status offenses. The seminar in Child Abuse and Neglect focuses on the legal issues and public policy questions which arise out of child abuse and neglect cases and takes students through a typical maltreatment case from initial reporting through disposition.

Several additional courses will introduce students to issues, which are not at the core of domestic relations, but do emerge in some cases. Constitutional Law II provides the theoretical background for the substantive and due process issues affecting families, including the definition of family, equal protection claims in illegitimacy cases, and the allocation of decision-making powers as between parents and state. The seminar in Alternative Dispute Resolution introduces students to methods of resolving conflicts outside of the usual litigation route. Finally, the seminar in Law & Psychiatry may prove to be of value to those students interested in the mental health aspects of the family.

Specific Courses/Frequency of Offering

• Family Law: Marriage, Divorce, and Child Custody (3 hrs.) (every year/day; alternating years/evening)
  
• Evidence (4 hrs.) (every year/day; alternating years/evening)
  
• Trial Ad I (2 hrs.) (every semester/evening)
  
• Civil Practice (3 hrs.) (every semester/day; alternating fall semesters/evening)
  
• Civil Advocacy Clinic (3-4 hrs.) (every semester; usually day hours required, although some evening and weekend scheduling may be possible)
  
• Constitutional Law II (3 hrs.) (every year/day; alternating years/evening)
  
• Client Counseling I (1 hr.) (every year/day)
  
• Juvenile Delinquency (2 hrs.) (usually every other year/day or evening)

Seminars (usually offered in late afternoon)

• Law and Psychiatry (2 hrs.) (alternating years)
  
• Child Abuse & Neglect & the Law (2 hrs.) (alternating years)

Sequencing of Courses

Students should plan to enroll in Evidence in the fall of their second year (or earliest opportunity for evening students) to prepare for Trial Ad I. Legal Profession is a pre-requisite for the Civil Clinic Advocacy course.

Other Information

Externships are available at local legal services offices where students can represent victims of domestic violence, or litigants in custody and dissolution matters. Students working in the in-house Clinics may also have similar opportunities. Students interested in the actual representation of clients must be Rule 13 certified. Students are eligible for Rule 13 certification once they complete half of their legal education and are certified by the Dean of the Law School. NOTE: Certification depends on the timely filing of the Law Student Registration Form and receipt of a Missouri bar number.