Course Description
Through this simulation course, students will learn about the child welfare system, trauma-informed lawyering, and interdisciplinary collaboration through classroom instruction and participation in a mock termination of parental rights trial. Guest faculty will include attorneys, judges, and social workers.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate law students will not be doing any extra work beyond
that required of the Juris Doctor students. J.D. students are
post-baccalaureate students and the workload expected of them
is the same workload expected of post-baccalaureate graduate
students. Law students are professional students, not
undergraduate students. Graduate law students are primarily
international lawyers seeking expertise in the American legal
system. This expertise is gained through exposure to Juris
Doctor courses.
Athena Title
Child Welfare Mock Trial
Prerequisite
JURI 5040/7040 or JURI 5042 or JURI 5046 or JURI 5047 or JURI 4250/6250 or JURI 4250E/6250E
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Course Objectives
This course has the following expected learning outcomes: - students will develop and demonstrate trauma-informed trial skills, including, but not limited to, trial preparation and advocacy, preparing and questioning witnesses, using expert witnesses in trial, and advocating for clients. - students will understand, describe, and exhibit holistic legal practice through interdisciplinary collaboration with the School of Social Work. - students will identify and develop general legal practice skills, including, but not limited to, interviewing clients, case investigation, issue spotting in complex legal cases, and secondary trauma and self-care. - students will develop and demonstrate skill at professional reflection and reflective practice.
Topical Outline
The Child Welfare Mock Trial Simulation Course provides Georgia Law students with the opportunity to learn how to practice child welfare law in a holistic, trauma-informed setting. Students from the School of Law and School of Social Work will work together to put on a Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) mock trial. Students will learn about the child welfare legal system, trauma-informed lawyering, and multidisciplinary collaboration through classroom instruction and a TPR trial simulation. Students will gain valuable trial skills, a deeper understanding of the juvenile court system, and the value of collaborating with key stakeholders and community partners. Guest faculty will include attorneys, judges, social workers, child welfare workers, and forensic interviewers. Students will attend four 3-hour classroom-based sessions followed by a 3-hour trial simulation. Readings will be assigned for Sessions 1-4 (approximately 2 hours of reading per hour of each session, including the mock trial). Students will use materials from Sessions 1-4, in addition to various simulation exercises and a mock trial case packet, in preparing for the final mock trial. The mock trial will be part of the CEASE Conference and will be followed by a discussion with students, faculty, and conference attendees. Students will write a final reflection paper after the mock trial.