Standards for representing children were initially developed for
a New York State Bar Association Law Guardian Study in 1984 (Law Guardians
in New
York State: A Study of the
Legal Representation of Children). Subsequently, the Committee on Children and the Law
(formerly known as the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare
Committee) concluded that Bar Association adoption and distribution of the
standards would prove beneficial to the bench and bar. The preparation of
standards and commentaries represent an important aspect in improving
representation, and in assisting the large number of attorneys who appear before
the Family Court.
Links to the revised and updated standards are listed
below:
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in New York Combined File (2015) (170 pages)
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Adoption Proceedings (2015) (29 pages)
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Child Protective, Foster Care, Destitute Child and Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings (2015) (35 pages)
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Custody, Visitation and Guardianship Proceedings (2015) (31 pages)
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings (2015) (44 pages)
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Person in Need of Supervision Proceedings (2015) (23 pages)
