Protection Order Litigation

Basic Information: Protection Order Litigation (the Course ) is an experiential learning course designed to complement and supplement the work of the Law School s pro bono Protective Order Project ( POP ) and help students determine if they would like to enroll in the Civil Protection Order Clinic ( CPOC ). The Course is open to up to 16 second- or third-year students; students who have not previously completed POP volunteer training will need to do so at the beginning of the semester. Class will meet for two hours once a week in a seminar format on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.; that meeting time is open to discussion and adjustment, if possible, to fit interested class members schedules.

Coordination with POP: There will be close coordination and collaboration between the Course and the Protective Order Project ( POP ). While enrolled in the Course, students conducting intakes at POP will share their experiences with the other students.

Content of the Course: The Course will cover the relevant statutes and important case law for civil protection order ( CPO ) cases, as well as related family law; rules of court; litigation practice; best practices for working with survivors of sexual and relationship violence; considerations about Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse (IPV); how to conduct IPV screening; how to work with clients, attorneys, and courts; the intersection of the law for CPO s, other restraining orders, and criminal no contact orders; immigration issues; mental health issues; housing issues; whether and when reaching compromise in CPO cases is appropriate; and ethical issues. There will be some simulated assignments using Indiana s protective order form documents as well as POP s form documents. The Course will also provide students with the chance to develop professional skills including interviewing clients and drafting pleadings and motions.

Pre-requisite for CPOC: Except in limited circumstances and with advance approval, students wishing to enroll in CPOC in a subsequent semester will be required to have completed the Course. That said, students who take the Course are not required to enroll in CPOC; they may or may choose to continue to volunteer for POP.

Grading and Evaluation: There is no final exam. Grades will be based on, among other things, the attentiveness, timeliness, and overall quality of each student s written assignments; and preparation for class and participation in class discussions. Other criteria will be set out in the syllabus.