Dependency Court Mediation Assistance Clinic (DC-MAC)

 

CCR Students Talking

In DC-MAC students participate in Dependency Court Mediations at the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park. Students receive the basic 30 hours of basic mediation training, plus additional training on the Dependency Court process, and must pass the Superior Court’s background check. Attorneys schedule a mediation with LCCR for any given Monday or Tuesday. Students, under the supervision of staff mediators, conduct conflicts checks, review files, learn about the court parameters, observe mediations, and conduct the mediation with the parents, parent’s counsel, minor’s counsel, or County counsel, and draft mediation agreements (LCCR Mediation Agreement and Judicial Council Forms). The goal of the mediation is to reach an agreement regarding legal custody, physical custody, and visitation, which may include a holiday and vacation schedule. The agreement also serves as the court’s exit order which is transferred to Family Law Court and is binding and enforceable. DC-MAC students also work in LCCR’s C-MAC program, (see LCCR C-MAC Course Description), if there are no Dependency Court cases. This is generally a two-unit clinic. Students may take fewer or more units with special permission from Professor Campos. Students who take two units satisfy their pro bono requirement and earn units toward their experiential learning requirement. A two-semester commitment is requested but not required. Mondays and Tuesdays are Dependency Court Mediation days. Therefore, students must be available to attend on either Monday or Tuesday. DC-MAC is available to take in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.