Professor Lucy Johnston-Walsh Presents at the National Association of Counsel for Children Conference in Baltimore, MD

PROFESSOR LUCY JOHNSTON-WALSH PRESENTS AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNSEL FOR CHILDREN CONFERENCE IN BALTIMORE, MD

August 2022 — Professor Lucy Johnston-Walsh was invited to present at the 45th National Child Welfare Law Conferences along with Allegheny County attorneys on the topic of: “Fine is Bad: Preventing Unnecessary Criminal Records and Fines for Transition Age Youth.”

Professor Johnston-Walsh, Samantha Barclay of KidsVoice, and Allison Ware of the Allegheny County Public Defenders Office presented on the topic of how transition age youth who are facing very minor criminal charges often have no right to counsel, yet a conviction can result in very negative outcomes, such as lost employment and housing and potential for further involved in the legal system. The presenters gave examples of how attorneys for children can help clients avoid criminal records and fines. Prof. Johnston-Walsh shared how she has, along with law students at the Penn State Dickinson Law Children’s Advocacy Clinic recently begun representing dependent youth in Magisterial District Judge hearings in order to prevent youth from receiving fines or charges which could have significant impact on their lives. Representing youth at these hearings also provides an experiential learning opportunity for law students in their second or third year of law school.

Professor Lucy Johnston-Walsh is an assistant professor of law and founding director of the Dickinson Law Children’s Advocacy Clinic. Professor Johnston-Walsh’s research, teaching and service focus on juvenile law, specifically legal challenges of youth involved in the foster care system. She supervises law students in the legal representation of youth involved in the dependency system and her scholarship directly relates to systemic issues presented through the clinic cases, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of child advocacy. Her recent scholarship has been published in both medical journals and law reviews including articles in Family Court Review, Akron Law Review and Seattle Journal for Social Justice.