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The Modern Law Clinic | Family Law

Representing yourself doesn't mean facing it unprepared.

Arizona family court holds you to the same rules as any attorney. The same deadlines, the same disclosure obligations, the same standards for evidence. The Modern Law Clinic gives self-represented Arizonans the preparation to meet that bar, at a fraction of full representation.

Schedule a Clinic Consultation
See how it works

Low-cost, limited-scope support · Prepared by trained law students and paraprofessionals · Supervised by Modern Law attorneys

What's actually at stake

Small details decide cases.
The court won't fill them in for you.

Judges and court staff are not permitted to give you legal advice or tell you when and how to file. When something is missed, the consequences land on your case, not on an oversight. Here is where self-represented litigants most often lose ground.

Disclosure · Rule 49

EVIDENCE YOU NEVER GET TO USE
Arizona requires you to disclose documents and witnesses to the other side, on time. Miss that window and the court can bar you from showing that evidence at all, even when it would have helped you.

Procedure & deadlines

A FILING THAT QUIETLY STALLS
Incomplete forms and missed deadlines can delay a case for months or produce a ruling you didn't expect. The right paperwork, filed correctly the first time, keeps your matter moving.

Presentation

FACTS THAT NEVER REACH THE JUDGE
Information matters only when it connects to a legal issue the court can act on. Knowing how to frame and present your facts is often the difference between being heard and being set aside.

How the Clinic helps

Focused, limited-scope support
for the moments that matter most.

Limited scope means you bring us in for a specific piece of your case, a document, a hearing, a strategy session, rather than full representation. You stay in control. We make sure the preparation is sound.

01 · DOCUMENT PREPARATION

The right forms, prepared correctly

From the first filing through the statements your case depends on, we prepare documents that meet Arizona's standards.

  • Divorce packets and initial filings
  • Resolution Management Conference statements
  • Pretrial statements, reviewed case by case
  • Petitions for Orders of Protection
02 · TRIAL PREPARATION

Walk in ready, not guessing

We help you organize your case so the day in court reflects the work behind it.

  • Direct and cross-examination questions
  • Exhibit and evidence organization
  • Document review and revisions
  • Courtroom strategy and objections
03 · COACHING & REPRESENTATION

Guidance when you need a steady hand

Coaching for the appearances you handle yourself, and limited-scope virtual representation for specific hearings.

  • Trial and hearing preparation
  • Presenting clearly to the judge
  • Virtual representation at set hearings
  • Status and modification conferences

The Modern Law standard, made accessible

Trained hands.
Experienced oversight.

Your work is prepared by law students and legal paraprofessionals training to become the next generation of Arizona’s best legal practitioners. Every matter is handled under the direct, close supervision of experienced Modern Law attorneys.

That structure is the whole point. It lets us bring the same meticulous, strategic care Modern Law is known for to families who need a more accessible path. The cost comes down. The standard does not.

Schedule a Clinic Consultation

"Everyone deserves access to quality legal guidance. The Clinic is how we extend it."

·Lower cost through limited-scope service
·Prepared by trained Clinic practitioners
·Supervised by Modern Law attorneys
·Built for self-represented Arizonans

Meet who will help you

The people behind your case.

Your matter is guided by our Clinic Director and prepared by a team of dedicated law student practitioners, capable hands on your case with experienced oversight at every step.

Maleah Woodward

Maleah Woodward

Clinic Director and Family law attorney

Maleah leads the Clinic, facilitating every matter and supervising the practitioners who prepare your documents and case. She makes sure the work meets the standard Modern Law is known for, at a level built for self-represented Arizonans.

Pamela Swayney

Law Student Practitioner

Ryan T. McGuire

Law Student Practitioner

Danielle Powell

Law Student Practitioner

Sabrina Rodriguez

Law Student Practitioner

Schedule a Clinic Consultation
Backed by Modern Law, one of Arizona's most recognized family law and estate planning firms.
Award-winning
Recognized among Arizona's leading family law practices.
Mesa & Peoria
Serving self-represented Arizonans across the Valley.

How it works

A clear path from
uncertainty to prepared.

1

Schedule your clinic consultation

Tell us where your case stands. We review every request carefully to confirm the Clinic is the right fit for your goals.

2

Meet with the Clinic team

We gather the essentials of your situation, custody, assets, timelines, and lay out the service options available to you.

3

Move forward with a plan

You receive a tailored, limited-scope plan that addresses exactly what your case needs, and nothing you don't.

Who the Clinic is for

Built for Arizonans handling
their own family law matter.

  • You're representing yourself in a divorce, custody, or family law case.
  • Full representation is more than your situation calls for right now.
  • You need to walk into court prepared and composed.
  • You have a hearing or filing coming up and want it done right.
  • You want experienced eyes on your documents before they're filed.
  • You value quality guidance at a cost that fits your circumstances.

Questions, answered

What to know before you reach out.

What is the Modern Law Clinic?
The Clinic makes family law support more accessible to Arizonans who are representing themselves. We offer focused, limited-scope help, document preparation, trial preparation, and coaching, so you can handle your own case with the preparation and confidence the court expects.
What does limited scope mean?
Limited scope means you bring us in for a specific part of your matter rather than full representation. That might be preparing a single set of documents, getting ready for one hearing, or a focused strategy session. You stay in control of your case, and you only engage us for the piece you need.
Who will be working on my case?
Your matter is prepared by Modern Law's top interns, talented law students and legal paraprofessionals, working under the direct facilitation of our Clinic Director. You get capable, motivated hands on your case with experienced oversight guiding every step.
How much does it cost?
Because every case is different, pricing is tailored to what your specific situation actually calls for. A single document is not the same as preparing for trial, so we scope the work to your needs rather than charging for representation you don't require. Reach out and tell us where your case stands, and we'll walk you through your options and what they involve.
How do I get started?
Reach out to schedule a clinic consultation. We respond quickly, and we review every request to confirm the Clinic is the right fit for your goals. From there, you'll meet with the team, talk through your situation, and leave with a clear plan.
Who should consider the Clinic?
Any Arizonan handling their own family law matter, whether it's a divorce, a custody question, or a hearing on the horizon, who wants experienced preparation behind their case at a more accessible level than full representation.

Take the next step

Your case is unique. Your plan should be too.

Every matter is different, so we build your support around it. Reach out today and tell us where things stand. We respond quickly and will reach back out right away to talk through your options.

Schedule a Clinic Consultation

Prefer to talk now? Call us at (480) 690-2348.