Time Schedule:
Anna C. Mastroianni
LAW A 580
Seattle Campus
Class description
This course presents a survey of Family Law. Topics covered include marriage, divorce, child custody, child support, property distribution, spousal support, and relationships of unmarried persons. As time permits we may also cover: separation agreements, paternity, assisted reproduction, ethics and policy issues.
Family Law generally encompasses a broad range of topics, as evidenced by the required text. It is impossible to give adequate treatment to all of these issues in a one-quarter, 4-credit class. Therefore, some subjects are not covered here at all, and others are given a more cursory treatment.
To learn about adoption, third-party custody, the fundamental rights of parents and the power of the state in child abuse and neglect proceedings, I highly recommend taking Child Advocacy with Professor Kelly and enrolling in the Children and Youth Advocacy Clinic (CAYAC) with Professor Ambrose.
To experience more than cursory treatment of community property (a WA state bar topic), I highly recommend taking Community Property offered by Professor Boxx or Professor Andrews.
Student learning goals
• To consider the purposes and functions of family law and why the state is interested in regulating the family;
• To consider how and why the family and family law have changed over the years and how the law is changing today in response to the demands of groups who have been excluded from its protections;
• To obtain a working understanding of the policies underlying substantive family law relating to the formation and dissolution of marriage;
• To contemplate the lawyer’s role as an advocate for people who are in personal crisis;
• To put family law in context by considering information from other disciplines, including the social sciences, psychology, and economics.
General method of instruction
Lecture, in class problems, designated expert Q&A
Recommended preparation
First year law courses
Class assignments and grading
Final exam, class participation, one group writing assignment
The course grade will be based on: (1) Final Examination (90%); (2) class participation as Designated Expert (5%); and (3) one group writing assignment (5%). This course is subject to the mandatory Law School Grading System, http://www.law.washington.edu/Students/Academics/Grading.aspx
