General Course Descriptions for Terms: family law
785 - Islamic Law & Jurisprudence
This class provides a basic understanding of the internal workings of Islamic jurisprudence at its theoretical roots and as it has manifested in various historical and contemporary contexts. It engages students with the tools of ijtihad (the mechanism of Islamic legal reasoning) with an eye to the interpretive methodologies of the various schools of Islamic law. It also explores the relationship between Islamic law and government and surveys two selected areas of substantive law: family and criminal law. It concludes with a look at modern Islamic legal and political reform. In doing so, this course reviews the dominant tools of legal interpretation in Islam, such as those rules surrounding the reading of source texts (Qur’an and Hadith), as well as qiyas (analogical reasoning) and ijma’ (consensus). This is done with attention to the various rationales behind the jurists’ methodologies and the corresponding impact on Islamic law as a whole. Students are expected to use critical thinking skills to compare similarities and differences and offer their own critiques of various approaches. The class concludes with attention to specific doctrinal areas, such as family law and criminal law. Attentive students come away from the class with a working understanding of the various methodologies in classical Islamic jurisprudence, as well as an appreciation of the types of Islamic legal arguments that are employed in Muslim debates around the world today. Student Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete this class will be able to: 1. Recognize the difference between “sharia” and “fiqh” and thus critically analyze how the term “sharia” is used in modern discourses. 2. Describe the methodological differences between the different schools of classical Islamic law. 3. Demonstrate knowledge and use of the different tools of ijtihad. 4. Describe the key doctrines of Islamic marriage and divorce law. 5. Understand and explain the difference between “hudood” crimes, “ta’zir” crimes, and “qisas."
822 - Family Law: Marriage & Divorce
Marriage and less formal spousal relationships, husband-wife relationships in on-going marriage; divorce and its economic and custody consequences; post-divorce relationships.
823 - Family Law: Parent & Child
854 - Clinical Program: Family Law Advocacy and Support Clinic
939 - Sel Prob Family Law: Adoption Law & Policy
940 - Domestic Violence
This course focuses on state and federal laws, policy and practices impacting victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. Topics examined include dynamics of domestic abuse; restraining orders; mandatory arrest law via law enforcement, prosecution & defense responses; family law, including custody/physical placement, mediation, effects on children who witness violence; relief for battered immigrants, and human trafficking. Class involves a mix of papers, observation of injunction hearings, interactive exercises, and a final exam.
950 - Spanish for Lawyers
Description: Spanish for Lawyers is intended to aid fluent or highly proficient Spanish speakers develop vocabularies to facilitate more effective attorney communications with Spanish-speaking clients who possess limited English proficiency. This course is not intended for law students with beginning or intermediate Spanish language skills. The course is appropriate for law students whose Spanish proficiency is high (can speak and understand at an advanced level, even if not fluent). The course will introduce Spanish legal terminology in such areas as immigration law, criminal law, employment law, family law, and housing. The emphasis will be on speaking and listening comprehension. Students will also be given coursework assignments, including but not limited to grammar exercises, to assist students with Spanish mastery. Class instruction will be primarily in the Spanish language and will be conducted remotely. Finally, the 2-credit course will be graded on a mandatory pass-fail basis. Instructor: Perla J. Rubio Terrones is a UW Law alumni currently practicing immigration law as a staff attorney with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) in El Paso, Texas. Prior to her role with KIND, she was a Clinical Instructor at the Immigrant Justice Clinic of the University of Wisconsin Law School and previously taught the Spanish for Lawyers course during the Spring semester of 2021. Throughout her legal experience, Perla has used her Spanish skills to represent clients, collaborate with community leaders, and work together with federal representatives and stakeholders. Her experience has taught her the importance of utilizing her language skills for the benefit of those with limited language access. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge with future attorneys that will use their legal profession to serve Spanish-speaking communities.