Does anyone know anything about being a Child Advocate Lawyer?
822466
look up Andrew Vachs. . .he is the most well known child advocate lawyer that I know of on the east coast.  Last name may be spelled Vacchs.
626151
There so many options you could take.  First focus on how you want to apply what you learn.  As a child psychologist, or a pupil service attendant, or what about working with social services focusing on a certain age group of children, elementary, middle or High school.  What ever you choose YEAH for you.  That is a definite field that needs people who really care and want to make a difference.  In California there is a program in LA connected with LA Works.  They are advocates for children.  Call them and maybe you could do some volunteer work to help you really focus in on what your heart desires.  Best of luck to you!
725597
Why don't you donate to your local CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) affiliate.....They are an organization dedicated to helping abused and neglected children.....They advocate for abused children in the courts systems....I volunteer with this organization and they do wonders for neglected and abused children....Here is a link to there organization....Best of luck!\n\nhttp://www.nationalcasa.org/
845559
To advise the child on legal and court matters.
1048351
If you're talking about your son... your family... his future.  This is not the time to rely on legal aid or some freebie lawyer (12 years of trial experience talking here).  If you walked into a courtroom against a lawyer like I was, with one of these to defend you...  Well, I'd cut your heart out and serve it to you on a platter.  I'd pat myself on the back for a job well done while you and your son cried for each other.  (This is why I quit trial law.)\n\nThis is crisis time;  train wreck, do or die, HAVE TO WIN time.  Reach out and touch your friends, your family, your church, whoever.  Ask for an advance on your salary.  Anything!  Swallow your pride, humble your spirit.  Get the cash you need to afford the best lawyer you can find.  If you lose this first hearing, your chances are less than 10% that you will ever win.  Ever.
87374
In most cases involving minor's counsel, this is an attorney appointed by the Court to represent the child's interests and paid for by the parents.  Unless there is a hotly contested custody hearing, the court usually won't appoint one.  Of course, the exact laws and policies on will vary vary by state.\n\nIf your son wants to come live with you, talk it over with your ex.  You might be able to work something out.  If your ex won't agree, you will need to file a motion for a change of custody and prove to the court that it is in the child's best interest to live with you now.
604511
It seems you should be able to go to many websites and get reliable information, depending on the specific issue you want to resolve.  Lawyers, and others professionals, pass state and/or federal government requirements to receive licenses to practice in their respective jurisdictions.  So, you should be able to visit law sites, and others (types), and rely (to a reasonable degree) that the information will be supported by the government [even if the website was not established by the government].\n\nDo a search of Family law, custody, paternal/maternal rights ... whatever your concern is.  Check some of the websites that result in the search - see if they have info that will help.  You might e-mail some of them (using their "contact us" buttons) and ask questions or ask for directions/advice (what websites/agencies might be able to help).\n\nThere is this Page of Government Websites, listed in alphabetical order, but I don't know if it will help you:\n\nhttp://usgovinfo.about.com/blindexalpha.htm\n\n\nI don't know that I can be of any more help, but feel free to e-mail me and (briefly) tell me your issue and maybe I can find some websites that might help you.\n\nPeace.
910920
Law school opens a lot of doors, including the FBI, CIA and the other government agencies mentioned above.  \n\nYou must realize that in law school there is very little debating and arguing of topics.  You will do a load of reading and writing though.  \n\nFurther, you should realize that an attorney is ultimately a counselor to his or her client and MUST have some empathy or pity or your clients will not be happy.  You will need to be able to identify with your client's position and support it and believe in it to be sucessful.  \n\nI would really consider what your options are.  Remember that law school can cost over $100,000, and unless you go to a top law school or graduate at the very top of your class, you aren't looking at that great of a salary (average is $60,000/year)\n\nGood luck!
412367
A barrister ("advocate" in Scotland and the Channel Islands, "barrister-at-law" in Ireland and elsewhere) is a lawyer found in most Common law jurisdictions who principally, but not exclusively, represents litigants as their advocate before the courts of that jurisdiction. In this regard, the profession of barrister corresponds neatly to that part of the role of legal professionals found in the civil law jurisdictions relating to appearing in trials or pleading cases before the courts. However, barristers, as a profession, are also known for specialising in certain areas of the law, and for giving advice in relation thereto to clients referred to them.\n\nIn the common law tradition, the respective roles of a lawyer - that is as legal adviser and advocate - were formally split into two separate, regulated sub-professions, the other being the office of solicitor. A parallel is often used with members of the medical profession, in that a solicitor, like a general practitioner (or doctor of first instance) deals with the simpler cases and employs the aid of a barrister (or, to continue the metaphor, a consultant) for more difficult or important issues. This parallel is however inaccurate. A barrister is retained by a practitioner, who acts on behalf of a client, to carry out a required function, such as advocacy or to render a legal opinion. There is no difference in the level of complexity in the practice of law by the different branches of the profession.\n\nA lawyer is a person qualified to give legal advice who advises clients in legal matters and represents them in courts of law and in other forms of dispute resolution.\n\nLaw is a theoretical and abstract discipline, and working as a lawyer represents the "practical" application of legal theory and knowledge to solve real problems or to advance the interests of those who retain (i.e., hire) lawyers for legal services.\n\nThe role of the lawyer varies significantly across legal jurisdictions, and therefore can be treated here in only the most general terms.\n\nMany jurisdictions, like England, have traditionally divided their legal professions into barristers and solicitors (known as advocates and procurators, respectively, in some civil law countries).\n\nIn some civil law countries, there has been a tradition of giving many legal tasks to a variety of civil law notaries, clerks, and scriveners. These countries do not have "lawyers" in the American sense, insofar as that term refers to a single type of general-purpose legal services provider; rather, their legal professions consist of a large number of law-trained persons, known as jurists, of which only some are advocates who are licensed to practice in the courts.\n\nIn contrast, several other countries that began with a divided profession have since fused or united their legal profession into a single type of lawyer.
451853
If you want to counsel/mentor kids you could go to the Anasazi program in Arizona.  Almost all of my brothers and sisters and a sister-in-law have been there and were successfully launched into their careers, not to mention fixing a problem before it's too serious and getting motivation. They love their jobs.  I'm thinking about going there, too.  You won't regret it!
773902
I had to learn the hard way too, never ever use a court appointed attorney, or public defender! They have too big a caseload to give you fair representation! You will not get nearly the results that you would by hiring your own personal attorney! Public defenders bank on getting you to consent to a plea bargain whether guilty or not, that way this eases their caseload somewhat and this means one less person they have to deal with!\n\nOften times the public defender works on your case as minimum as he or she can, and will not put as much of an effort as if he was a private paid attorney. Many people have lost their kids or have gone to jail on the account of having a sorry a$$ public (defender in their corner. )\n\nAs for your situation, call your local bar association and see can't you get something done about your attorney. It is worth a shot, but even with them, they are like cps in that they have tons of immunity! Suing an attorney for malpractice is like suing a judge or the police department! it is rare that a person wins against any of those people! I don't know enough about the law to say whether or not that they did anything wrong in stripping your visitation right just becasue of what your stepfather said.\n\nif your kids have a guard ad litem or c.a.s.a (court appointed **** advocate (I forgets what the s stands for) but try talking to them. Sometimes they can help when no one else is willing to! Just remember that casa's still work for and or closely with cps and you always have to be on guard of what you say and do. But if push comes to shove, try a local children's or women's advocate agency in your area, or better yet, google cps, you may be able to pull up more and other helpful info on people who have been through what you have. I wish you the best of luck!
496371
http://www.okdhs.org/childsupport/csnatamerian.htm\n\nhttp://www.ptla.org/wabanaki/icwa.htm\n\nhttp://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode25/usc_sup_01_25_10_21_20_I.html
434925
http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/\n\nYou can also call a lawyer, but if you have custody of your kids, I wouldn't worry.  \n\nTaking away custody is a very long and involved and expensive process.  As long as the children are fed, clothed, and cared for (half of the time they don't even have to be WELL cared for, not that yours aren't) CPS won't take children from their mother. When CPS is involved, proving abuse or neglect is difficult, and you will always get the benefit of the doubt.  \n\nJust realize that you will need to think about things like that from now on.  If your husband can afford to take you to court, you need to be on your toes.  A highly paid lawyer can turn the smallest things into a custody issue. Stupid things like feeding your kids McDonald's instead of home cooked food, or if they are left in daycare too long or with a babysitter while you work.  If you smoke around your children and your husband doesn't.  Also, courts frown upon parents having boyfriends/girlfriends around the children, especially if you live together.  If you live with a boyfriend and your husband doesn't live with a girlfriend, a good lawyer can get your kids taken away because your home is immoral. I am not saying any of these things apply to you, just trying to show you the types of things the court will look at.  CPS is one thing, but fighting against a good lawyer is another.
699808
I don't know, but the Web site below might help. It's a Q&A about court requests to terminate parental rights. It would also seem a child 12 or older can object to the proceedings.
109652
There are national advocates group that do, they are AMERICAN FATHERS' COALITION; AMERICAN FATHERS' ALLIANCE; and AMERICAN COALITION FOR FATHERS AND CHILDREN.\n\nTry one the above and good luck.
600026
I know of a great organization that might be interested in providing you the opportunity you seek. Send an email to vice-president@kidsdefenseteam.com .  This is an organization that advocates child safety online.  You seem to have a good heart and the desire.  I wish you well.
531334
As a parent advocating for her child you have many options. Oftentimes, school site administrators and teachers will make you think your options are limited to them but they're dead wrong. As a parent, you have a right to go before your districts superintendent, school board, local newspaper, rally other parents, the PTA, the Civil Rights Board, a personal lawyer, as well as a State Official at the County Office of Education or at the State Office of Education. Again as a parent, whose child represents between $4,000-$10,000 annually to the school in the form of ADA, and as a taxpayer, you have a plethora of options at your disposal. Remember, Always advocate for your child!