Jean Koh Peters

Seeking Dignity, Voice and Story for Children in Our Child Protective Systems

Three principles: (1) revolve one’s representation around both the child-in-context and the theory of the case; (2) respect one’s child client whether present or absent; and (3) cultivate the right relationships with the child’s significant others – embody values central to representing children: dignity, voice, and story. At the same time, these principles both safeguard and imperil dignity, voice, and story, centrepieces of our service mission. Within each principle, dignity, voice and story collide with and contradict each other. These tensions, our determination to keep the child’s, not other adult concerns, paramount, and nonjudgment critically inform how we weigh children’s views in justice proceedings.

The Lawyer for Children at the Interdisciplinary Meeting

In addition to appearing at formal court appearances and hearings, a lawyer for children in child protective proceedings can pursue his or her clients goals at interdisciplinary meetings. Because child protective proceedings involve professionals from many disciplines, almost any case encounter apart from an on-the-record court hearing could constitute an interdisciplinary meeting. This article assists lawyers in making the most of these meetings by offering a theory and practice of meeting practice, which often proves more important for a successful resolution of a case than trial practice. The article instructs lawyers in developing a comprehensive vision of the childs needs and goals that must guide all substantive decisions about the case. It also attempts to bridge the gap between the lawyers ethical duty to advocate for his or her clients perspective and the duty of other professionals at the interdisciplinary meetings to pursue the childs best interests.