Taught by Clinical Professor Paolo Annino and Professor Emmalyn Dalton
The Clinic represents three categories of very vulnerable children: 1) 0-5 years old; 2) children survivors of sex and labor trafficking; and 3) children with disabilities and/or chronic health issues.
The Clinic provides each child holistic, full legal representation. The Clinic handles juvenile delinquency, foster care, adoptions, immigration, emancipations, expungements, health care, special education, disability, social security, food insecurity, criminal law and a myriad of public benefits. Law students represent children in both state and federal trial, and administrative and appellate tribunals. The Clinic primarily represents children in Florida, but routinely represents children from West Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico and Central America.
The Clinic is committed to experiential learning: the fusion of theory and practice. Students learn by doing, through weekly reflective journals, role playing of critical legal stages, weekly dialogue with peers and faculty members about cases, critical observations of the performance of various legal professionals, direct visceral exposure to poverty, unfairness, and systemic injustice, and in-depth interaction with clients and their communities. Students learn the skill sets, substantive law and values to zealously represent their clients.
The Clinic has received both state and national awards for its outstanding advocacy from The Florida Bar Foundation, The American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Association (Criminal Justice Section), the Association of American Law Schools, the Clinical Legal Education Association, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Youth Law Center, and the Florida Guardian ad litem Program.
The Clinic has been featured in national and international media, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, CNN, The Florida Bar News, WFSU, El Pais (Spain), and Focus (Germany). The Clinic has also been featured in a Canadian documentary, 15 to Life: the Kenneth Young Story.
News, Events & Student Scholarship
- 2L Christina Portuallo, “Legal Professionalism in Public Interest Law” in The Professional, (Winner of the ‘Raising the Bar’ Professionalism Writing Contest). March 16, 2023
- In February 2022, three Public Interest Law Center students published opinion pieces in major newspapers across Florida:
- 2L Emily Wood, “Florida Should End Solitary Confinement of Children” in the Tampa Bay Times. February 28, 2022
- 3L Precious Chavez, “Remove Our Children From Solitary Confinement” in the Tallahassee Democrat. February 27, 2022
- 2L Olivia Ingram, “Ban Solitary Confinement for Children” in the Orlando Sentinel. February 24, 2022
- 2L Olivia Ingram, “Take a Stand Against Child Labor in Cocoa Fields” in the Sarasota Herald Tribune. February 9, 2022
- Blog post: A Student's Experience of the Children’s Advocacy Clinic. March 2019
- "A Major Breakthrough for a Child Who is a Survivor of Sex Trafficking" Fall 2018
- "Foundation-Funded Project Protects the Rights of Chronically Ill Children to Specialty Care" March 2016
- "Children’s Advocacy Clinic Files Amicus Brief in Support of the Right of Children to be Adopted by Gay Adoptive Parents" September 2010
- Circuit Court Judge Janet Ferris issued a temporary injunction ordering DCF and Big Bend Community Based Care to immediately end the practice of forcing special needs foster children to sleep night after night in a conference room in a DCF building at 3019 Jackson Bluff Road in Tallahassee. April 2006
- Writ of Mandamus
- Settlement Agreement
- Class Action Complaint for Declaratory Relief and Mandamus or Injunctive Relief
- "FSU's Annino Guardian ad Litem Advocate of the Year" Florida Bar News, 2006
Law Students - How to Apply for Enrollment
Students interested in enrolling in the Children’s Advocacy Clinic should complete the PILC application and contact Professor Annino or Professor Dalton to schedule an interview. There are no prerequisites for this clinic, and CLI status is not required. The clinic is open to all students beginning the summer after their 1L year.
Student Testimonial
“The Children’s Advocacy Clinic was an opportunity to do legal work that helped my clients get out of some of the most difficult situations of their lives. Being able to help children in the Tallahassee community was one of the most rewarding experiences that I have had while at the College of Law.”
- 3L Olivia Ingram
about Lorem Ipsum
Pro Bono Training Materials
Videos
- Mock Individual Education Plan Meeting: Amber Speech Therapy Dispute
- What is the Goal of the Individuals with Disabilities Act?
- Why do you Need Evaluations?
- What is an Individual Education Program? (IEP)
- How do you Advocate at an IEP Meeting?
- What are the Disciplinary Rules for Children in a Special Education Program?
- What is the Appeal Process for IDEA? What is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973? What is a McKay Scholarship?
- Q&A
Documents & Links