Public Policy Clinic

Students in the Public Policy Clinic focus on research and advocacy projects that have a systemic impact on the way Georgia courts and agencies handle child abuse, neglect, and juvenile delinquency cases. Projects often arise from requests by agencies, courts, child advocacy partners, legislative committees, or from current events that affect the system. Former clients and partners have included foster youth empowerment groups and other grass roots organizations.

Public Policy students act as lawyers in settings and roles that are different from traditional representation of individual clients. Lawyers as public policy advocates identify problems, develop strategies to solve them, collaborate with other advocacy organizations, interact with court personnel and government agencies, draft legislation and develop strategies to support its passage, and participate in other projects designed to effect systemic changes in the way courts and agencies handle child abuse, neglect, and juvenile delinquency cases.

The Public Policy Clinic is offered during the fall semester and is open to both 2Ls and 3Ls. Students work a minimum of 150 hours during the semester to receive three graded academic credits. To enroll in the Public Policy Clinic, students must have taken or be concurrently enrolled in Child Welfare Law and Policy.

APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2022 ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED