Program Materials & Past Programs

 

Preparing for the Challenges of Child Witnesses

In this complementary taped teleconference, an expert panel discusses the challenges of working with child witnesses in a variety of cases. Experts on this audio program will outline the major issues that must be addressed at the beginning of the representation, before trial, and in court in order to prepare a child (both a young children and adolescents) to be a witness; identify the ways a lawyer can prepare a court or jury for issues unique to child witnesses; teach listeners how to identify competency issues in child witnesses; discuss the importance of age-appropriate language and limits of language when examining a child witness in court; and teach listeners how to plan accommodations for child witnesses, opening statements, and the use of physical tools.

Child Clients Are Different: Best Practices for Representing Unaccompanied Minors

In this complimentary taped teleconference, an expert panel discusses the challenges inherent in the representation of unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings. Approximately 8,000 children come to the United States each year without parents or family after fleeing their home countries due to the violence they witness or experience. Many have suffered persecution because of their gender, religion, or political opinions. These children must face a government lawyer in an adversarial immigration hearing before a judge, though they may not even speak English. Their attorneys are their only assistants.

Topics of this program include cross-cultural and language issues when interviewing children and preparing them to testify; difficulties in obtaining corroborating evidence; how to use experts; and best trial practices.

Interviewing and Counseling a Child Client

In this program faculty discuss how the age, the level of development, the language proficiency and the life experience of the child might impact on what the lawyer needs to do to develop a trusting relationship with their client. They also explore effective techniques for interviewing and counseling children, giving practical advice on the settings, word usages, explanations, questioning techniques and questions that will help the lawyer to communicate clearly and comfortably with the child client. In addition to accompanying written materials the program also provides links to relevant websites.

Successful Strategies for Representing Child Sex Offenders

The outcome of a juvenile sex offender case can have a major impact on the life of the child. Yet, despite the high impact and the complexity of their work, there is almost no training for those who represent juvenile sex offenders. The Children’s Rights Litigation Committee of the ABA Section of Litigation, the National Juvenile Defender Center, and ABA-CLE are presenting this teleconference to provide education on effective strategies for successful representation.

Roper v. Simmons Teleconference

How will this case change practice in the courtroom?

Take our online, 90-minute audio course on the Supreme Court’s landmark Roper decision. This online course examines outcomes from Roper v. Simmons, including how this case will affect juveniles who are charged with significant sentences, how the Supreme Court’s reasoning in Roper affects what defenders can do, and the confirmation that children and adults are different.

Reception for the Release of the Report on the Legal Needs of Harris County Children

On November 11, 2004 the Children’s Rights Litigation Committee officially released the Report on the Legal Needs of Harris County Children at a reception at the law firm of Susman and Godfrey. Rocky Robinson, President of the Houston Bar, officially welcomed everyone to the reception, and attendees also heard from Scott Atlas, former chair of the Section of Litigation, Angela Vigil, Working Group Member of the Committee, and J.C. a 14 year old boy who described the difference a lawyer made in his life. Geoffrey Vitt, Co-Chair of the Committee then presented engraved bowls to the ten firms that assisted with the Report.

Training the Lawyer to Represent the Whole Child

The Children’s Rights Litigation Committee and NITA have put together a groundbreaking national training for children's lawyers, Training the Lawyer to Represent the Whole Child, that offers a unique opportunity for children's lawyers to focus both on courtroom skills and on substantive interdisciplinary issues that affect children involved with the legal system.

In order to effectively represent the needs of children, lawyers must be able to interview child clients, counsel their clients, negotiate on behalf of the child and represent the child's interests in a wide variety of hearings and court procedures. Additionally child clients are affected by a variety of interdisciplinary issues that attorneys who represent them must be aware of such as special education, homelessness, expulsion, physical and mental health, benefits and immigration.

In order to foster the distinctive skills of children' lawyers, NITA and the Children’s Rights Litigation Committee put together this exceptional six day training, along with support from the Juvenile Law Center, Loyola University School of Law, the National Association of Counsel for Children, Northwestern University School of Law, the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center and the Support Center for Child Advocates. The outstanding materials were authored by Diane Geraghty of Loyola, and Tom Geraghty of the Bluhm Legal Clinic at Northwestern, and Angela Vigil of Baker and McKenzie. This training has been offered in Philadelphia and New York, and can be offered at other sites around the country. For more information contact our committee director, Cathering Krebs.