Serve Pro Bono

Somewhere tonight, a child is waiting for rescue.

Volunteer Today

Every day, dependency courts exercise extraordinary authority over children’s lives—determining placement, contact with family, and exposure to ongoing risk. These decisions carry constitutional, statutory, and sometimes life-or-death consequences, and they are made in adversarial proceedings governed by law and power.

Yet the child whose rights, safety, and future are directly at issue is often left without an attorney.

We believe every abused child deserves an attorney legally bound to protect the child’s safety, family, and future—and to hold the system accountable to the law.

By serving in our National Legal Network for Abused Children, you step into a role the system too often fails to provide: counsel dedicated exclusively to the child when the child’s fundamental rights are at stake.

What we believe

The stakes in child welfare cases could not be higher.

Court decisions determine where a child sleeps, who is allowed to care for them, and whether they are safe.

Every day, dependency courts exercise extraordinary authority over children’s lives—determining placement, contact with family, and exposure to ongoing risk. These decisions carry constitutional, statutory, and sometimes life-or-death consequences, and they are made in adversarial proceedings governed by law and power.

Protecting a
Child’s Life and
Safety in Court

In dependency proceedings, courts rely heavily on information presented by child welfare agencies. While essential to case management, that role is not designed to provide legal advocacy for the child.

The appointment of counsel for the child materially assists the court. Counsel develops the factual record, tests the sufficiency of evidence, identifies statutory and constitutional issues affecting the child’s safety and permanency, and presents focused legal arguments.

Far from complicating proceedings, counsel for the child improves their reliability. Legal representation promotes procedural fairness, supports timely and legally sound decisions, and strengthens the durability of court orders on review.

A pro bono attorney ensures that the child’s legal rights are identified, asserted, and protected. This representation brings the child’s rights, safety, and future to the center of the courtroom—where they belong.

Securing a Child’s
Right to Family

Every month a child remains in foster care limbo is a month of childhood lost. Federal law is clear: foster care is intended to be short and temporary. Yet across the country, children wait years for permanency, often aging out without family.

In dependency proceedings, delays are rarely the result of a lack of good law. They are the result of a lack of enforcement. When no one is legally bound to press timelines, challenge unnecessary continuances, or enforce statutory mandates, cases stall—and children pay the price.

A pro bono attorney provides focused legal advocacy to move cases forward. Counsel monitors compliance with federal and state permanency requirements, enforces deadlines, and brings unresolved barriers before the court. This advocacy supports timely permanency through reunification, guardianship, or adoption—before children lose the chance for a stable family altogether.

Because Every
Child’s Case
Is Unique

Child victims of abuse face an extraordinary range of legal issues—placement instability, sibling separation, educational disruption, unmet medical and mental health needs, and prolonged uncertainty about their family structure. These are not exceptional circumstances. They are the baseline reality of child-protection cases.

A pro bono attorney provides comprehensive legal advocacy. Counsel tracks the full scope of the child’s case, raises unresolved issues before the court, enforces statutory protections, and ensures that critical decisions about placement, services, education, and family connections are made lawfully and intentionally.

Legal representation ensures that every child is seen, protected, and advocated for at every stage—until the child is safe, stable, and legally secured in a permanent home.

All They Had Left
Was Each Other
– A true story

When their mother died, Brady and Brenda lost everything at once. Instead of being kept together, they were sent to separate group homes—miles apart, grieving alone, asking only for one thing: each other.

Their aunt stepped forward, ready to provide their new home. The children asked the court to let them live with her. The court said no. When the Center offered to represent Brady and Brenda pro bono, that request was also denied—without explanation—leaving two grieving siblings alone in group homes hundreds of miles apart.

For two years, we refused to let “no” be the final answer—through filings, hearings, and persistence.

In the end, our legal work made the difference. Today, Brady and Brenda are reunited—safe, home with their aunt, and together.

Opportunities for Legal Volunteer Work

We offer meaningful ways for legal professionals to use their skills to protect children’s rights—while matching your experience, availability, and local court requirements. Because child welfare systems vary by state, our pro bono work focuses on strategic legal advocacy that strengthens children’s safety and stability, whether directly or through the adults who care for them.

Pro Bono

Case-Based Legal Advocacy

Through our National Legal Network, attorneys provide strategic legal support in child welfare cases that affect a child’s safety and future. Depending on local law, this may involve representing foster parents, relatives, or biological parents who are advocating for a child’s best interests, or, in select cases, representing the child directly. No matter the role, your advocacy helps ensure children are safer, heard, and protected by the law.

Strategic Research and Public Interest Law

Attorneys with research and writing strengths can assist in our public interest litigation work. Volunteers research national legal trends and draft amicus briefs to challenge unconstitutional practices and establish precedent in states where children currently have no right to an attorney.

Professional Legislative Advocacy

Legislative and government-relations experts support the Center’s advocacy by engaging directly with lawmakers, committee staff, and executive-branch officials to advance child-focused reforms. Experienced advocates help ensure reforms move efficiently from proposal to passage.

Access to Our Resource Library

We make our specialized legal tools and research publicly available to ensure that every child advocate—whether part of our network or a solo practitioner—has the support they need.

Frequenty Asked Questions

  • Do I need prior experience in family or dependency law?

    We are currently seeking volunteers who have the experience and baseline knowledge necessary to make an immediate impact. The Center supports this foundational expertise with our specialized practice manuals and direct strategic consultation with our internal team of national child welfare experts.

  • What is the typical time commitment for a case?

    The commitment varies depending on the complexity of the case and the jurisdiction. We work with our volunteers to match them with opportunities—ranging from short-term projects to full case representation—that fit their professional schedules.

  • Are there opportunities for non-litigators?

    Absolutely. Many of our volunteers contribute through strategic research, policy analysis, and drafting amicus briefs. Your analytical and writing skills are just as vital to protecting children as courtroom representation.

  • Does the Center provide malpractice insurance?

    We recommend that all practicing attorneys maintain their own professional liability insurance. However, we provide extensive support and oversight to ensure all pro bono work meets the highest standards of excellence.

  • Can law students get involved?

    Yes! Law students are an integral part of our mission. You can assist with intake in our Children’s Law Clinic, conduct vital legal research, and help prepare motions under the supervision of experienced attorneys.

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