Improving Representation
The Improving Legal Representation project seeks to improve the quality of legal representation for all parties to juvenile court cases. This goal will be accomplished by a focus on standards of practice, training and quality assurance. Members of the commission will identify and support specific steps that can be taken by the judicial system to increase the quality of legal representation in children’s cases, thereby providing access to justice for all involved parties.
Invitation to View 'Child As a Party' to their Deprivation Case Discussion
Major Goals for Improving Representation Project
1. Establish standards of practice for all attorneys practicing in juvenile court.
Strategies
The American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the National Association of Counsel for Children have already written standards of practice that could be adopted in this state. At least one state’s AOC (Arkansas) has modified those standards for their state law and have tied quality assurance and salaries to adherence to standards of practice with positive results. The Georgia Public Defenders Standards Council has agreed to work on standards for parent attorneys and the Georgia Association of Counsel for Children has agreed to work on standards for child attorneys.
2. Ensure attorney access to high-quality training that aligns with the above mentioned standards.
Strategies
Institutionalizing education for attorneys representing parties in children’s cases is one of the best ways to improve representation. Both beginner advanced training will be offered at least twice a year. In addition, trial skills training (NITA type) can and should be developed which will also cultivate expert attorneys and trainers for Georgia, such as the NACC specialized child welfare training.
3. Develop a method for providing quality assurance.
Strategies
Other states have developed quality assurance instruments that assist with reviews of attorney case files, observations of attorneys in court and interviews to test knowledge and practice. Those instruments can be developed for Georgia’s law and piloted with an experienced, respected practitioner to begin a system of quality assurance for monitoring compliance with standards of practice and identifying excellence in representation.
Representation for Children and Parents in Dependency Proceedings, (2005), at 4. Pew Commission, Available at: http://pewfostercare.org/research/docs/Representation.pdf.
