Every day in courts across America, life-changingdecisions are made regarding the well-being ofchildren and families. Heartbreaking and complexcases involving child abuse and neglect, foster careplacements, access and custody disputes, anddivorce are heard in growing numbers.

For details on applying for aChild and Family Advocacy Fellowship,

please contact:Hofstra Law School

Office of Enrollment Management121 Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY 11549-1210Phone: (516) 463-5916Fax: (516) 463-6264

E-mail: lawadmissions@hofstra.edu

Each year in America:• Three million cases of abused childrenare reported to child protectionagencies.

• Approximately 13 million children underthe age of 18 live in poverty.

• 500,000 children are in foster care onany given day.

• 1.2 million children experience theirparents’ divorce.

• Thousands of children witness domesticviolence between their parents.

• Millions of children lack access toadequate health care and education.

• More than 100,000 juveniles aredetained, incarcerated or placed inresidential facilities.

Hofstra Law School is helping to combatthese problems by developing effectivechild and family advocates through its Childand Family Advocacy Fellowship Program.

Name: ______________________________________

Title: _______________________________________

Institution/Company: __________________________

Phone: _____________________________________

E-mail: ______________________________________

Relationship to applicant: ______________________

I hereby apply for a Child and Family Advocacy Fellowship fromHofstra Law School, and grant permission for the SelectionCommittee to review any and all materials contained in myadmissions file and to contact my listed references for additionalinformation. I certify that all information contained in thisapplication is true and complete, and I understand that it is myresponsibility to inform the Law School in writing of any changesto this information.

I understand that the Child and Family Advocacy Fellowship iscontingent upon matriculation at Hofstra Law School. Thescholarship is awarded for one year, but is renewable annuallybased on satisfactory academic performance.

I understand that upon graduation, Fellows are expected to usetheir specialized education to represent the legal interests ofchildren and families for at least three years. If a graduate isunwilling or unable to meet this expectation, he or she has anobligation to reimburse Hofstra for all fellowship support so thatthese monies can be reinvested in future Fellows.

Signature

Date

For additional information, please visitlaw.hofstra.edu

Hofstra Law

SCHOOL OF LAW

Child andFamilyAdvocacyFellowship Program

The Center For

Children, Familiesand the Law

121 Hofstra University, Suite 250Hempstead, NY 11549-1210

Phone: (516) 463-5916 • Fax: (516) 463-6264E-mail: lawadmissions@hofstra.edu

Web site: law.hofstra.edu

SCHOOL OF LAW

6927

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Child and Family Advocacy Fellowship Program: Developing Leaders in Family LawThere is an urgent need for lawyers trained in an interdisciplinary environment to provide effective representation forchildren, participate in ongoing education and research and improve services to families in need. Hofstra Law Schoolestablished its Child and Family Advocacy Fellowship Program in 2002 to train and develop the next generation ofleaders in the specialized field of family law. It is one of the most comprehensive fellowship programs of its kind inthe country. The program provides the foundation needed for our Fellows to become heads of social serviceorganizations, members of the judiciary, leaders of the bar, and legislators who will work collaboratively with thosefrom related disciplines to improve the family court system in America.

Each year, Hofstra Law School selects up to five (5) Fellows from among students admitted to the entering J.D. class.Fellowships are awarded to students who intend to pursue careers in child and family advocacy. Awards include amaximum $10,000 tuition fellowship each year (over three years of law school) and up to two $7,500 summerstipends to cover living expenses while completing externships related to child advocacy. The fellowships are renewedannually subject to satisfactory academic performance and full participation in program activities and externships.Students must maintain a satisfactory grade point average in their law school work; the present requirement is a 3.25GPA. The fellowship is made possible in part due to the generosity of Andrew M. Boas ’80 and Mark L. Claster ’77and the Patrina Foundation.

Elements of the ProgramThe Center for Children, Families and the LawHofstra University and its School of Law haveestablished a unique interdisciplinary center – The centerfor Children, Families and the Law – committed toeducation, community service and research to benefitchildren and families involved in the legal system. Thecenter offers unparalleled opportunities forinterdisciplinary collaboration with faculty and studentsfrom the University’s Department of Psychology as wellas with national associations and mental health andhuman services agencies. Second- and third-yearFellows are assigned to work on center projects ofinterest to them.

Unique Interdisciplinary ClassesFellows select from one of the most comprehensivechild and family advocacy curricula at any American lawschool, including a rich variety of family law classroomcourses offered in conjunction with Hofstra’sDepartment of Psychology. Traditional classroominstruction, simulations and research seminars are allpart of the educational experience.

Hands-On Clinic ExperienceFellows have the opportunity to participate in theChild Advocacy Clinic, where they provide directrepresentation, under close faculty supervision, toactual child clients. Fellows advocate for their clients incases that involve allegations of physical and sexualabuse, inadequate supervision, abandonment,educational neglect, and juvenile delinquency. Theclinic also represents children in special immigrantjuvenile matters.

Summer Externship ProgramFellows gain practical family law and child advocacy workexperience through completion of two 10-week summerexternships, approved by the director, after their first andsecond years. The externships are supported byfellowship stipends to cover living expenses. Uponcompletion of each externship, Fellows are required tosubmit written reports of their experiences to thedirector. Externships have included advocacy and policywork on behalf of abused or neglected children; allegedjuvenile delinquents; runaway, homeless and at-riskyouth; foster children whose educational needs are notbeing met; and parents involved in family court matters.

Publishing OpportunitiesFellows may submit an article for possible publicationand apply to work on the leading interdisciplinary lawand mental health journal, Family Court Review (FCR),sponsored by the Association of Family and ConciliationCourts and edited at Hofstra Law School. FCR’s staff isalso responsible for the New York State Office of CourtAdministration’s Matrimonial Decisions Newsletter,which publishes recent opinions written by New Yorkstate judges concerning matrimonial cases.

Cutting-Edge Research & Law Reform ProjectsFellows have the opportunity to participate in a rangeof conferences and symposia in which national and localexperts share research and discuss current issuesaffecting children and families. They may also work onlaw reform projects to improve treatment of familiesand children in court.

Child and Family AdvocacyFellowship Application

Deadline: Friday, February 8, 2008Name: _______________________________________

Social Security Number:__ __ __ - __ __ - __ __ __ __

Address: _____________________________________

____________________________________

Phone: _____________E-mail: ___________________

A completed application must also include:

1) Official undergraduate transcript.(The Selection Committee will not accepttranscripts submitted through LSDAS.)

2) A copy of your résumé.3) Essay. Please discuss, in no more than three

pages, the factors that have most significantlyinfluenced your interest in child and familyadvocacy and any other factors you considergermane to the Selection Committee’sconsideration of your qualifications for theFellowship. Please note that your entireadmissions application will be submitted to theSelection Committee.

4) Two letters of recommendation frompersons who can assess your potential forsuccess as a Child and Family Advocacyapplicant. (The Selection Committee will not userecommendations submitted as a part of yourJ.D. application to Hofstra Law School.) Pleaseindicate the names of two individuals who arewriting letters of recommendation on yourbehalf:

Name: _______________________________________

Title: ________________________________________

Institution/Company: __________________________

Phone:________________ E-mail: ________________

Relationship to applicant: ______________________

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