Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professors A. Rachel Camp and Deborah Epstein

J.D. Clinic 518 | 10 credit hours

This one-semester program provides students with the opportunity to represent victims of domestic violence seeking protection from abuse. Students litigate in D.C. Superior Court, bringing actions to obtain injunctive relief in the form of civil protection orders. These orders can provide victims with a broad spectrum of relief, including directing the abuser to cease assaulting, threatening, and harassing the victim; ordering the abuser to vacate the parties' residence; awarding custody of the parties' children, with visitation rights for the non-custodial parent; and child support. Students also have an opportunity to gain experience in criminal practice by collaborating with the U.S. Attorney's Office in related prosecutions of accused batterers.

In the twice weekly two-hour seminar, students study the substantive and procedural law relevant to their cases, including the local domestic violence statute, criminal law, family law, evidentiary principles, and procedural rules. The seminar also focuses on litigation skills exercises, including conducting direct and cross examinations, arguing motions, and conducting negotiations. Participation: 10 students each semester.

The prerequisites for this clinic are those required by the D.C. student practice rules (the completion of 41 credits, including Criminal Justice, Civil Procedure, and Evidence, by the time clinic classes begin).

See clinic course description in the Online Curriculum Guide or the "Clinic Enrollment Policies" in the Bulletin.

A student may only en¬roll in Advanced Evidence: Trial Skills; Civil Litigation Practice; Patent Trial Practice; Trial Practice and Applied Evidence; Trial Practice: Working with Expert Witnesses; or any section of Trial Practice during a semester prior to enrolling for credit in the Center for Applied Legal Studies, Community Justice Project, Criminal Defense and Prisoner Advocacy, Criminal Justice, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Justice, or Law Stu¬dents in Court Clinics. Students may not take Advanced Evidence: Trial Skills; Civil Litigation Practice; Patent Trial Practice; Trial Practice and Applied Evidence; Trial Practice: Working with Expert Witnesses; or any section of Trial Practice during the same semester or a subsequent semester in which they enroll in the Center for Applied Legal Studies, Community Justice Project, Criminal Defense and Prisoner Advocacy, Criminal Justice, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Justice, or Law Stu¬dents in Court Clinics. Students may not concurrently enroll in this clinic and an externship or a practicum course.