Spring Edition 2007

Features

 

Twenty-three Teams Compete in Capital’s Child Welfare and Adoption Law National Moot Court Competition

Seton Hall’s Krista Gundersen and Vanessa Campagna take first place at our second annual competition for law school students. More...

 

Prominent Scholars Convene for Annual Adoption Law Conference to Discuss Father’s Rights

Attorneys, child welfare practitioners, law faculty, and law students explore the various issues that surround unmarried father’s rights and adoption law. More...

 

The Adoption Jobsite Now Accepting Employer Job and Volunteer Postings for 2007

Looking for some help at your organization this summer? We may have some law and graduate social work students for you. More…

 

Quick Links/Contact Us

Upcoming Events:

 

Forever Home Adoption Celebration

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Join us for a fun evening to celebrate and raise awareness about adoption in Columbus, Ohio!

 

Works in Progress Conference

Friday, June 15, 2007

Children and family law scholars have the opportunity to present their works-in-progress or recently submitted articles and receive comments from their peers.

 

Autumn Wine Celebration

Friday, September 21, 2007

 Save the Date!  If you are interested in getting involved with our annual fundraiser, please email Anna Lin

Twenty-three Teams Compete in Capital’s Child Welfare and Adoption Law National Moot Court Competition

 

Together with Capital University Law School, the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy (NCALP) hosted its second annual National Moot Court Competition in Child Welfare and Adoption Law on February 16 and 17.  The competition attracted our largest pool of competitors to date — 23 teams from 17 law schools across the country, including the University of South Carolina, University of Pennsylvania, University of San Diego, and New England School of Law. 

 

Each team argued the issues of putative father’s rights: the right to appointed counsel in adoption cases and conflicts of law in putative father registries. 

 

Our 2007 national champion was Seton Hall University School of Law, which prevailed over Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law in the final round.  Law school students Krista Gundersen and Vanessa Campagna represented Seton Hall, and law school students Ashley Baird, Megan Maxfield, and Scott Van Nice represented Northern Kentucky.

 

The competition was made possible due to a number of attorneys and students who volunteered their time to judge and bailiff on Friday and Saturday.  Over 100 attorneys, judges, magistrates, and law professors nationwide were involved in either judging briefs or oral arguments, and 35 student volunteers served as bailiffs for argument rounds.

 

Special acknowledgement goes out to our national partners, the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA), the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), the ABA Center on Children & Law, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, for sending senior officers to judge the final round. 

 

Both AAAA and NACC generously donated $500 to the winning team.  In addition, AAAA has extended its generous financial support to future competitions by committing to sponsor a portion of the competition’s expenses for the next two years and to underwrite the cost of three competition plaques: a plaque for the winning team, a plaque for the winning school, and a perpetual plaque that will hang at Capital University Law School with each national champion.  

 

We are very appreciative of our national partners and would like to especially thank the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and the National Association of Counsel for Children!

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“This competition involved passionate advocates and judges who have much to offer to any student interested in family law — the problem was current, the topic was hotly contested, and the judges were informed and ready to enlighten students.”

2007 Competitor

“I loved having actual child advocacy specialists on the panel. People who have a passion for the subject matter delve deeper, and push you in new ways.”

2007 Competitor

Prominent Scholars Convene for Annual Adoption Law Conference to Discuss Father’s Rights

 

In collaboration with the Center and Capital University Law School, Capital’s Law Review hosted its annual Wells Conference on Adoption Law on Thursday, February 15, 2007.  The conference provided a full day of discussion and study on the topic of Adoption and Fathers’ Rights.  We were pleased to have over 50 people in attendance comprised of a diverse group of attorneys, faculty, child welfare practitioners, and law students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year’s featured panel speakers were:

 

· Northern Illinois University School of Law Professor Jeffrey Parness who spoke about the effects of the Safe Haven laws on unmarried fathers.

 

· University of Houston School of Law Professor Laura Oren who presented information on the constitutional rights of unmarried fathers contrasted with those rights of married fathers.

 

· University of Missouri School of Law Professor Mary Beck who addressed state and national putative father registries and the interstate issues for birth fathers.

 

· Howard University School of Law Professor Cynthia Mabry who discussed how other countries handle putative father registries, Safe Haven laws, and the termination of unmarried fathers’ rights in the realm of adoption law.

 

Commentators included:

 

· Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute

· Mark Strasser, Trustees Professor of Law at Capital University Law School

· David Broome, attorney and vice president of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys

· Twila Perry, Professor of Law and Judge Alexander P. Waugh, Sr., Scholar, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law

· David Smolin, Professor of Law, Samford University Cumberland School of Law

 

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The Adoption Jobsite Now Accepting Employer Job and Volunteer Postings for 2007

 

NCALP’s Adoption JobSite connects adoption and child welfare employers nationwide with qualified law students and graduate social work students. The service is free to both employers and student applicants.

 

Students are able to gain valuable insight and hands-on experience in the fields of adoption and child welfare through these positions.  In the past, students have assisted employers in the following ways:

 

· Research issues of adoption or child welfare law

· Prepare memoranda of law and court briefs

· Participate in client counseling sessions

· Assist with trial preparation

· Create newsletters, websites, and lay-person guides

· Contribute to the writing and editing of scholarly articles

 

Since the Jobsite’s launch in 2001, Adoption Jobsite has offered over 180 job postings in 23 states, including Washington DC and the US Virgin Islands, and has provided over 130 job matches for students and employers.

 

For more information and to post paid or volunteer positions, go to www.AdoptionJobSite.org.

 

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Who We Are

The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy at Capital University Law School seeks to improve the laws, policies, and practices associated with child protection and adoption systems through education, information services, and advocacy programs.  Every day, we work toward realizing our goal that all children — especially those who have been abused or neglected, or are dependent on the state for their care — obtain safe, loving, and permanent homes.

 

What We Believe

Every child deserves a family.  Children who live in permanent, loving, and stable homes feel better about themselves, receive better healthcare, do better in school, and grow up to be better parents, workers, and citizens.

Maestro: (noun) genius, expert, rare talent, ace, whiz.

 

NCALP staff endearingly refer to the figure in the Center’s logo as the “maestro.”

National Center for Adoption Law & Policy

303 E Broad St Columbus, OH 43215 • (614) 236-6730 • adoption@law.capital.eduwww.ncalp.org

“[The Adoption Jobsite] is a well-kept secret.  It is one of those gems very few people know about.  It is crucial and very, very important.”

Elizabeth Yore, General Counsel, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

“I was simply amazed at the skill and aptitude my ‘assigned’ law clerk displayed… I couldn’t have been happier.”

Sue Dell, Attorney, Tujunga, CA

“Our Court had an excellent experience with our summer clerk.”

Judge Robin D. Sage, 307th Family District Court, Longview, TX

“I had a great time judging this competition, and look forward to doing it again next year.”

 2007 Judge