Giving Children a Voice

Kirkland’s D.C. office was looking to make a positive impact in the lives of families and kids through pro bono work. At an event hosted by D.C. Superior Court, local judges highlighted that one of their most critical needs was finding qualified attorneys to act as guardian ad litem (GAL). In these cases, lawyers represent the best interests of the child in contested custody proceedings. In these proceedings, the parties are most often unrepresented by counsel, and the judges are therefore evaluating these important cases without any independent legal expertise. In response, the D.C. office launched the GAL Initiative in partnership with the Children’s Law Center, with the goal of creating a strong bench of lawyers and paralegals who can actively engage in this work. We meet monthly to discuss challenges we’ve experienced and exchange advice.

In just under two years, nearly 50 attorneys and paralegals have devoted more than 2,500 pro bono hours to the GAL Initiative. We’ve worked on 10 matters resulting in 30 hearings and one trial, with three more trials coming up in the next six months. We’re really proud of our growth here in D.C., and our next goal is to expand these efforts to other Kirkland offices.

In GAL work, pro bono attorneys get to fight for outcomes we believe are in the best interests of children. Representing children, who can range in age from toddler to teenager and who don’t have a voice or the ability to use their voice effectively in a court system, is deeply rewarding work. In addition, we get to flex our “counseling” muscles in interfacing with families and children who really need our help and guidance.

Associates get so many great opportunities and experiences through guardian ad litem work: honing interviewing and fact-development skills, devising creative approaches for understanding the family situation and interests of the child (such as tracking down school records and teachers, working with social workers and counselors, and interfacing with friends, neighbors and the children themselves), and practicing oral advocacy. Some associates have even taken their first trial witnesses as GAL counsel!

As a junior associate, one of my first pro bono matters involved representing one of the parties in a heated custody dispute. During that experience, I lamented not being able to do more to work toward a middle-ground solution that would be best for the child. Fast forward to the launch of the GAL Initiative. I’m getting to fulfill a desire I’ve had for many years to make a bigger difference in the lives of vulnerable children.