Lawyers Fighting for Children

Kids often need lawyers, too. A new book from the ABA shows the ways that lawyers make a difference. Changing Lives: Lawyers Fighting for Children (Lourdes M. Rosado ed., 2014) has chapters by lawyers from around the country about representing children in different contexts—the child welfare system, school disciplinary actions, immigration proceedings, and so on.

Each chapter portrays a real-life case of a child in crisis and describes in detail the lawyering that was brought to bear to achieve the best outcome for that child. In describing these cases, the authors also offer practice pointers. The book is in the Classified Stacks (KF337.5 .J88R67 2014).

Chapter 6, A Matter of Survival: Representing Runaway and Homeless Youth, is by Casey Trupin, UW Law grad, Columbia Legal Services attorney, one of the founders of SYLAW (Street Youth Legal Advocates of Washington), and long-time lecturer in UW Law's Legislative Advocacy Clinic. You can follow the work of the Columbia Legal Services Children & Youth Project on Twitter @columbialgl_cyp.