Minn-LInK Report Brief—Special Topic No. 23, Summer 2015
Authors: W. L. Haight & J. M. Marshall
The purpose of this study was to evaluate a law school clinic that provides free legal representation to parents who have had their children removed from their care. Specifically, we examined the quality of (1) legal representation provided by a student- and faculty-run law clinic to parents involved in the foster care system, and (2) education received by student attorneys. This study answered the following research questions:
- How successful is the Clinic in achieving outcomes desired by participants? Specifically,
how successful is the Clinic in achieving:- Reunification within 12 months,
- Case closure within 12 months, and
- Placement with relatives within 12 months of the child’s removal from home
- What are the strengths and challenges of the Clinic’s parent representation from the
perspectives of parent clients, clinic staff, and court professionals? - What are the strengths and challenges of the Clinic’s legal education from the perspectives
of students, clinic staff and court professionals?
Citation: Haight, W., Marshall, J., & Woolman, J. (2015). The Child Protection Clinic: A mixed method evaluation of parent legal representation. Children and Youth Services Review, 56, 7-17.