LLM in Child and Family Law

You will demonstrate advanced knowledge of legal rules and procedures in the fields of child and family law. You will gain a deep understanding of the specific areas of the law that impact children and families—from education to child welfare, mental health to juvenile justice, domestic relations to domestic violence, and many others. Policy considerations will become familiar to you as you tackle current issues impacting the field of child and family law in well-informed ways. You will discover or enhance your own leadership qualities while exploring the meaning of advocacy in a variety of contexts. The knowledge you will gain will equip you to advance equitable solutions for children and families.

You will be able to:

• Conduct complex and specialized legal research and analysis;
• Engage in scholarship that contributes to the greater understanding of law and policy as it affects children and families;
• Understand how child development and family dynamics influence child and family law and policy;
• Effectively compare perspectives on issues facing children and families in a global environment;
• Comprehend the historical, socio-economic, and cultural context in which child and family laws, policies, and practices are developed and implemented;
• Identify and articulate areas in which laws and policies should be improved to promote positive outcomes for children, families, and communities;
• Appreciate the unique legal and ethical needs and circumstances of child and adolescent clients;
• Further develop written and verbal advocacy skills that are central to being an effective advocate for children and families;
• Advance the needs of children and families through the deepening of advocacy skills relevant to various contexts and circumstances;
• Understand and apply professional leadership skills to organizational management and as a change agent;
• Identify and strategize ways to create legal systems grounded in equity; and
• Generate systemic reform and progress.

You will be prepared to exercise proper professional responsibilities to your clients and serve as a leader in promoting the legal needs of children and families by embracing the following values:

• Integrate professional values of honesty, civility, and respect for others in your advocacy work;
• Exercise ethically responsible judgment in interactions with clients and your peers;
• Respect and abide by the laws, practice, and procedures of legal system while envisioning and harnessing opportunities for reform;
• Adhere to the tenets of servant leadership to manage organizations and initiatives to serve children and families;
• Understand the importance of using your knowledge and skills in service of advocacy to support children and families in times of need and to foster effective systemic responses that meet their need; and
• Commit to transforming inequitable systems and building equitable responses in their place.

• LAW 651: LLM Child Law Paper/Thesis

You choose from a range of courses including family law, elder law, family finances law, legal marketing, child custody, adoption law, juvenile justice, child welfare, and international child rights. You may wish to create an emphasis within either family law or child law. Below is a sampling of our courses offered fully online. We seek to rotate new elective courses into the schedule each term (available courses subject to change).

• LAW 166: Education Law Practicum
• LAW 426: Special Education Law and Advocacy
• LAW 608: Juvenile Justice Law and Policy
• LAW 631: Child Law Graduate Externship
• LAW 641: Child Law Directed Study
• LAW 663: Children’s Summer Institute
• LAW 668: Leadership Development
• LAW 669: Education Law and Policy
• LAW 670: Child Welfare Law and Policy
• LAW 673: Mental Health Law and Children
• LAW 678: International Children’s Rights
• LAW 687: Introduction to Legislative Policy and Advocacy
• LAW 689: Family Law and Policy
• LAW 690: Financial Aspects of Divorce
• LAW 691: Domestic Violence: Theories, Policies, and Societal Impact

We have a dedicated academic advisor who works one on one with students to craft an individual advising plan based on their anticipated course load and rate of pursuit as well as to hone special areas of elective interest.

You can choose from a range of courses including family law, elder law, family finances law, and legal marketing.

Loyola’s comprehensive curriculum includes child welfare, juvenile justice, child custody, adoption law, and international child rights.

The Graduate and Online Programs Team typically holds Education Immersion Weekends (EIWs) twice a year. EIWs offer programming to reinforce learning objectives, provide a venue for networking, and foster communication among students, alumni, and faculty members. EIWs are usually held at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. At this time, EIWs remain optional but strongly encouraged. For more information, please email LawOnlineAdvising@luc.edu.

LLM applicants must possess a primary law degree. For U.S. lawyers, this is a JD degree. For international lawyers, the degree may vary per country. If you have earned a JD degree from a non-ABA accredited institution in the United States, you must also be a licensed attorney.

In addition to formal courses, you may have the opportunity to:

• Represent child clients through the Child Law Clinic
• Assist in the editing of the Children's Legal Rights Journal
• Complete an externship in Chicago's large child advocacy community