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Course Number 493 Adult Guardianship Project- Clinical Opportunity for WJD Students
The Adult Guardianship Project is a three-credit graded clinical course offered in the Spring and Fall semester that offers 711 license eligible students the opportunity to represent clients in need of legal guardianship of an adult family member. This course is fully remote and prioritizes the enrollment of WJD students. Student attorneys must attend all Zoom lectures, appear at Zoom court dates, and meet for weekly Zoom office hours to discuss casework.
Student attorneys represent family members of students attending Northside Learning Center or Southside Occupational Academy which are both CPS high schools for students aged 16 to 22 years old with significant intellectual disabilities and impaired adaptive functioning. Many families are below the federal poverty level, and all clients could not afford a private representation. At both schools, many families have one or more undocumented household members and are justifiably apprehensive of navigating the legal processes without an attorney.
Student clinicians handle 2 to 3 guardianship cases per semester. This advocacy involves client interviews, legal research, drafting pleadings, effectuating personal service, and appearing in Zoom court for at least one hearing on behalf of the client. Given court dates are known to us approximately 5 to 6 weeks in advance, WJD students have ample time ensure availability for Zoom hearings.
There are still spots for this remote course offered for Fall 2025. See link below to apply-
