Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence: How to Get Involved as a Law Student
Published May 14, 2021
The Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic (FVWRC) was founded to fight for the justice and safety of victims of intimate partner violence. Their work spans nearly three decades and continues to fill the gap to ensure victims of violence are properly represented and cared for across the legal spectrum.
The FVWRC was founded in 1992 by co-director Suzanne Tomkins ’92 and Dr. Catherine Cerulli ’92, with substantial assistance from Professor Isabel Marcus. Together they laid the foundation for an infrastructure that supports domestic violence survivors and other community collaborators in Western New York.
Today, the FVWRC represents a variety of law areas, including family offense petitions, child support, and custody and visitation cases. Most recently, in November 2020, the FVWRC received a proclamation from the Erie County Legislature recognizing Assistant Clinical Professor Judith Olin and the clinic’s work in bringing justice to victims of domestic violence.
Student Engagement and What It Involves
Wanting to get involved in protecting victims of domestic violence is a commendable and valuable experience, and the FVWRC helps put you and your peers to work for the greater good!
Under the supervision of clinic director Judith Olin, all FVWRC students can practice law and are included on the Clinical Legal Education Program’s Student Practice Order. Working together in teams, you and others will be assigned multiple cases throughout the semester, prompting you to learn, use and hone practice-ready skills like client interviewing and counseling, negotiation with opposing counsel and attorneys for the child, as well as understanding the preparation of legal documents like stipulations, orders, discovery documents and more. As you develop case theories and investigate facts, you’ll stand up in Court to argue motions and—potentially—examine witnesses in hearings and trials.
Weekly seminar classes and team meetings will allow you to discuss your cases with the clinic director and other student colleagues, receiving input and advice as you go over the finer details. Further study and skill building happens through in-class simulations in interviewing, negotiation and other litigation matters, providing you with the invaluable skills needed to assist survivors of family violence and comprehend the unique ethical issues that arise in domestic and family violence law.
For students who know they’d like to get involved and wish to prepare beforehand, useful background courses include Family Law, Domestic Violence Law, and Children and the Law.
Get Involved in Student Organizations
The diverse student organizations at University at Buffalo School of Law provide a meaningful and integral part of the law school experience. If you’d like to delve into more extracurricular work surrounding domestic and family law, consider the below organizations.
Domestic Violence Task Force (DVTF)
In addition to the DVTF’s panel discussions and other informational events, they host the “Dress for What’s Next” event each spring. This relaxing day brings together survivors of domestic violence to provide them with shopping experiences, makeup lessons, resume drafting classes and practice interviews, all meant to bolster their self-esteem and worth. If you’d like to contact members of the DVTF, you can find their info on the Student Organizations page.
Family and Children’s Law Society (FCLS)
If you would like to learn about a day in the life of a Family Law attorney, the FCLS is for you. Students will get a chance to shadow an experienced attorney throughout court proceedings, perform client intakes and observe other relevant appointments, while also receiving access to mentors, contacts and networking for other family law and education law events. For more information on summer employment or volunteer opportunities, visit the Student Organizations page.
Go Further with the Family Law Concentration
If you know this type of legal practice is something you’d like to be involved in long term, then consider applying for the Family Law Concentration. This program exposes students to the breadth and intricacies of family law and ensures in-depth engagement across a variety of topics. Visit the Family Law concentration page to discover courses and the application process.
Set to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2022, the FVWRC continues to provide ongoing legal services for women and families who need it most. Proudly funded partially by the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, as well as other generous donors, the FVWRC hopes to continue educating students, dispensing services and helping improve justice for those in need.
