In securing a juvenile lawyer, quality should be a
defendant’s top priority. Of course, a minor and his or her family might
already have connections to a juvenile attorney through blood relation or past
experience, but if not, any hired legal professional will be an
experienced in-court advocate for children and very knowledgeable about the
subject of juvenile law. Then again, the inability of minors and/or their
parents to afford an outside juvenile lawyer may be a limiting factor.
In that event, a court-appointed representative should be
better than none at all.
It should be noted that a juvenile attorney will not
be available in all cases. Only defendants who face being remanded to the custody of
a state-run facility will generally be able to have legal representation in
their corner.
A juvenile attorney may not have to be directly
involved in the case to lend a hand to parties. Under the doctrine of amicus curiae (i.e.
“friend of the court”), a particularly knowledgeable and interested
legal representative not a party to the hearing may submit briefs
through the court to help bring to light relevant information heretofore
unconsidered. Expectedly, it is up to the individual court to decide whether or
not to permit these materials.
