The purpose of the course is to explore the literature on the developmental needs of children in disciplines other than the law, and then analyze how the legal institutions designed to serve children address, or fail to address, those needs. Guest speakers from other disciplines, including medicine, psychology and psychiatry, will assist our review of the literature, and our development of the analytic framework for evaluating how legal systems can work more effectively towards meeting the developmental needs of children.
The course will include a practical, community service component including, observation of courtroom proceedings, field trips and community service sites.
Credit for the course can be earned by writing a paper, or through a community service project.