The Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center focuses on teaching, research, law reform and community service in all areas of family law. A large and distinguished faculty provides expertise on a broad range of legal issues that affect families throughout their life cycle, including child protection, juvenile justice, adolescent health, education, partnership, marriage, domestic violence, divorce, disability and elder law. The Family Law Center shares DePaul University's dedication to serving diverse populations and varied families, and we strive to accomplish the following goals:
- To teach the future generations the skills needed to enhance the practice of family law
- To work with lawyers, judges, and legislators to discover and promulgate best practices
- To evaluate existing law
- To partner with the community to serve diverse families
Paid Public Service Jobs
The Family Law Center has two different programs that fund students to work in public interest jobs: Family Law Summer Service Awards, and Family Law Fellowships. Funded students work in the following areas of Family Law:
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- Juvenile Justice
- Domestic Violence
- Elder Law
- Divorce
- Disability
- Gay Rights
- Adoption
- Sexual Trafficking
In 2006-2007, the Center funded 22 students to work in Public Interest.
Summer Service Awards: Guaranteed Paid Summer Jobs in Public Service
Our selective Summer Service Award Program has attracted some of the country's best students, who were drawn to DePaul by the prestige and quality of the program. The students chosen for these awards have LSAT scores as high as 168 and median GPAs of 3.5.
Selected stellar students are guaranteed a paid, pre-arranged job for the summer following their first year of law school.
These job opportunities afford family law students valuable work experience that helps them find permanent employment upon graduation. Students who choose to work in the public sector receive an award of $5,000.00.
Family Law Fellowships
The Center's prestigious Fellows Program provides students with opportunities to participate in the substantive work of the Center. All DePaul Law Students are eligible to become Family Law Fellows. Fellows participate in a variety of activities including:
- The Opportunity to Apply for a Part-Time Public Interest Job
- Hot Topics in Family Law: Monthly Speakers' Series
- Substantive Research
- Newsletter Editing
- Networking with Attorneys and Judges
- Field Trips
- Colloquia
- Symposia
- Social Events
- Public Service in Family Law
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