Continuing the tradition of serving marginalized communities, including children, immigrants and veterans, the Florida State University College of Law Public Interest Law Center has developed a clinic that provides legal services to people with family law issues who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated. Beginning in the spring 2019 semester, the Gender and Family Justice Clinic’s work examines the intersection between mass incarceration, reentry and families, where people serving their sentences continue to be parents, grandparents and siblings to those on the outside. Once they have been released, the desire to reunite families, where possible, motivates individuals, even as they face the countless barriers to reentry. 

The clinic takes a two-pronged approach to its legal work. Clinic students represent clients in family court and students present educational workshops in local prisons and jails. On Thursday, January 17, 2019, clinic students conducted their first presentation at the Gadsden Correctional Facility, the only women’s prison in northern Florida. 

In the week prior to the hour-long session, students received 70-plus survey responses submitted by the women at Gadsden Correctional about their family law concerns. The students picked their workshop topic based on these responses, ensuring that their work would address the women’s general interests. In addition, students conducted legal research, collaborated with team members and others, and rehearsed their presentation. 

The students’ hard work paid off, as they gave a well-received workshop to a packed room of approximately 40 women. The attendees were engaged and asked numerous questions during the interactive discussion. 

Both the women at Gadsden Correctional and the law students are looking forward to the next workshop. In addition, family law workshops at the local jail will begin later in the spring 2019 semester. Students also are excited to put their research and teaching to further use through direct client work. 

The intersection between mass incarceration and family law is not one many think of, but, as these hard-working FSU Law students experienced, the need to address these issues is massive. If you would like more information about the clinic, please contact director and visiting Clinical Professor Carla Laroche. 
 

Published on January 30, 2019