Middleton Center for Children's Rights Academics

Students in the Middleton Center for Children's Rights explore children's rights issues and learn about the workings of juvenile court.

Curriculum

Drake Law School offers courses such as Children and the Law and Family Law, in addition to the Children's Rights Clinic.

For more information, see Drake Law School's course descriptions.

Children's Rights Clinic

The Children's Rights Clinic furthers the training and public service goals of the Middleton Center for Children's Rights.

Through the clinic, Drake law students engage in children’s rights advocacy, including direct representation of children in administrative, school disciplinary, and juvenile court proceedings. Students also work to improve outcomes for children through advocacy efforts and community education projects. 

Learn more about the Children's Rights Clinic.

Internships

Law students have opportunities for internships through Juvenile Law or the Middleton Center for Children's Rights.

The Juvenile Law internship places students in a wide array of legal settings including the offices of the Attorney General, Public Defender, and County Attorney, the Department of Human Services, the Youth Law Center, or other agencies involved in juvenile justice. Interns have also served as clerks to juvenile court judges.

Interns in the Middleton Center for Children's Rights work on a variety of projects geared towards community needs. Projects may include research and writing on topics of juvenile law, production of educational materials, work on the center's website, and more.

Learn more about Drake Law School's internship opportunities.

Policy

Students have opportunities to research children's rights issues and draft legislation and accompanying documents.

The center then works with Drake's Legislative Practice Center to submit the legislation to a board member who is a licensed lobbyist to get the legislation passed.

Students can sign up for extra credit to work with the lobbyist.