Children's Law Clinic

Problem Solving

"Lawyers are primarily problem solvers. In the Children's Law Clinic, law students are taught to analyze the problems presented to them and come up with strategies to solve them. Sometimes, the solution is obtained through negotiation or mediation. When problems cannot be solved informally, more formal mechanism such as administrative hearings and court cases are necessary. Law students in the Children's Law Clinic are encouraged to find the most effective and efficient resolution to a child's problem."

Professor Jane Wettach
Director, Children's Law Clinic

The Children's Law Clinic is a program of Duke Law School that provides free legal services to low-income children and their parents in matters relating to the rights of children in school and in certain other cases involving a child's health or well-being.

The clinic is staffed by law students learning to practice law under the close supervision of faculty. Clinic students are trained primarily in the areas of special education and school discipline. They can provide advice and advocacy for school-aged children and their parents who live within the clinic's eleven-county service area, which includes Durham and the surrounding counties. The clinic also works with two local pediatric practices to offer legal services to patients when the doctor believes a legal problem is interfering with a child's health or overall wellbeing.

In addition to providing free legal services to children and their families, the clinic staff provides community education presentations to groups about special education, school discipline and the services of the clinic.