All children should be seen and heard.

Why Children Need Lawyers

Why do children need legal advocacy? Children depend on their families, communities, and a variety of public services for their success. Many services are legally mandated by federal and state laws, including special education programs and the provision of health care. Unfortunately, some youth face incredible challenges in their lives and do not always have the support they need to be successful.

Many youth do not understand or even recognize their legal rights to services in the community. Some lack adults in their lives to stand up for their rights. Even armed with knowledgeable and caring adults, some youth are unable to access services. Lawyers for youth can break down barriers caused by problems like inadequate communication between systems, disagreements around what the child needs and how those service should be met, or discrimination based on a child’s juvenile record.

TeamChild attorneys play a critical role by helping children and families navigate social service and court systems, and ensuring that institutions and systems are held accountable to the people they were designed to serve. TeamChild gives youth opportunities to succeed and stay out of trouble by upholding their rights to services that meet their basic needs.