Juris Doctor - Family Law

Family law is a hot practice area because the modern variety of family relationships presents new and challenging questions for the law. The field offers sustained employment opportunities because people always need help with the family issues of daily life. Whether you work for a small firm, solo practice, legal aid organization, governmental agency or court, family law offers a variety of contexts for practice. Family lawyers handle disputes about parental rights, child support, divorce, marriage recognition, grandparents rights, adoption, juvenile issues, and domestic violence. They work as advocates, prosecutors, guardians ad litem, mediators, magistrates, and judges.

Distinguish yourself at Akron Law through our specialized training and experience opportunities. In addition to our many course offerings, externships give you practical training in domestic relations courts, juvenile courts, legal aid organizations, family and children services agencies, and the prosecutor's child support enforcement agency. Akron Law's longstanding affiliation with the local bar association offers an organized mentoring program and opportunity for students to network with practicing attorneys from their first year. Opportunities to work as upper-classmen with local practitioners and judges give you that apprenticeship experience to help you go from the classroom to the courtroom. In fact, as part of our new Domestic Relations Clinic, you can appear in Portage County court, argue at hearings, prepare legal briefs, and advise clients under the supervision and guidance of an experienced practitioner.

A complete application form.
An active LSAC account
An active Credential Assembly Service (CAS) subscription
A CAS Law School Report including a transcript from every college or university attended (Note that it is your responsibility to have transcripts sent to CAS for processing.)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Students in our two-year accelerated International JD program should be prepared to read and discuss legal materials. Because class preparation and participation is demanding, students with English limitation may struggle. For this reason, we utilize the TOEFL and IELTS exams to ensure that you will not unduly struggle in the classroom.
Required scores on the TOEFL IBT (internet based test) are a 102 and 610 for the PBT (paper based test). Register for the TOEFL.
Required score on the IELTS is a 7.5. Register for the IELTS.
Full Admission may be given to any applicant who desires to pursue a graduate degree and has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with an overall grade-point average of 2.75 or better or 3.00 for the last two years (64 semester credits or equivalent), or holds an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in or appropriate to the intended field, or holds a baccalaureate or master's degree from a foreign college or university with first-class standing or its equivalent, plus satisfactory evidence of competence in English. intended field, or holds a baccalaureate or master's degree from a foreign college or university with first-class standing or its equivalent, plus satisfactory evidence of competence in English.