Our Work and Impact
Students in the Children’s Advocacy Clinic work together as a team to represent children who are involved in the juvenile court system. Clinic students gain valuable experience working directly with their young clients through a team approach in addressing the child’s complex needs. Additionally, Clinic students work with pediatric residents and child psychiatry fellows from Penn State Health, deepening our students’ understanding of child advocacy.
Direct Representation
Local courts appoint the Clinic to represent children in one of two ways:
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As guardian ad litem, representing both the child’s best interests and child’s wishes to the court.
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As a child’s attorney to represent the child’s wishes and legal interests
As certified legal interns, students are responsible for all aspects of representing clients. Working under the direction and supervision of licensed attorneys, students learn basic lawyering skills such as:
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Drafting legal documents
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Interviewing clients
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Investigating facts
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Completing legal research
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Oral advocacy for court hearings
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Communicating with opposing counsel and experts
Policy and Legislation
Another component of the clinical program enables some students to focus their legal skills in the area of policy and legislation. The students research systemic problems on behalf of their clients in the child welfare system and then work with state and federal government officials to develop broad solutions.
Faculty Supervision
As an associate professor, director of the Children’s Advocacy Clinic, and director of the Center on Children and the Law, Lucy Johnston-Walsh supervises law students in the legal representation of child clients in juvenile court proceedings. The Clinic operates as an interdisciplinary program, by partnering law students with graduate social work interns, pediatric medical residents, and child psychiatry fellows. Under her supervision, law students represent children’s legal interests in complex cases in the Court of Common Pleas as well as appellate advocacy.
In addition to direct legal representation in court proceedings, Professor Johnston-Walsh also works on broader systemic policy issues which impact youth in the foster care system. Her recent work has focused on youth aging out of the foster care system and legal issues which they face. She has worked with the Penn State Child Maltreatment Solutions Network to create the Fostering Lions Program to assist foster youth attending college. She worked with a team of advocates to get legislation passed which provides free tuition to foster youth in Pennsylvania, and also works on the legal impediments to foster youth driving.