Representing Children in Dependency and Family Court: Beyond the Law - Rebecca Stahl

Representing Children in Dependency and Family Court: Beyond the Law Rebecca Stahl ISBN 9781641051477

This distinctive family law resource addresses the real-world challenges lawyers face when representing children in dependency and family court proceedings. Written by a psychologist with decades of experience working with children and an attorney whose practice focuses almost exclusively on representing children in dependency matters, the book emphasizes a core truth: effective advocacy for children requires truly understanding them. That understanding extends beyond legal doctrine to include the systems that shape their lives, the services and schools they rely on, their cultural and ethnic backgrounds, their special needs, the legal issues they may encounter outside of family and juvenile courts, and the complex realities faced by the parents and caregivers with whom they live.

While some children’s representatives work exclusively in this field and seek a deeper exploration of family dynamics and child-focused advocacy, this guide is equally valuable for practitioners who handle children’s cases only occasionally or who are new to this area of practice. Clearly written and thoughtfully organized, it serves as an accessible and authoritative resource for professionals at every stage of experience.

Topics covered include:

• Defining the role of the children’s representative, with forward-looking perspectives on how that role may evolve

• Essential psychological concepts, including trauma, child development, domestic violence, high-conflict separation and divorce, alienated or resistant children, and other special circumstances

• Professional responsibilities, such as ethical considerations in representing children, recognizing and managing bias, and understanding the emotional and professional toll of this work

Table of Contents

Introduction

Section I – Conceptualizing the Role
Chapter 1: The Role of Children’s Representatives Today
Chapter 2: Unique Questions in Working with Children
Chapter 3: Imagining a New Role

Section II – Critical Psychological Issues to Understand
Chapter 4: Trauma
Chapter 5: Child Development
Chapter 6: Domestic Violence and Its Impact on Children
Chapter 7: High-Conflict Separated and Divorced Parents
Chapter 8: Alienated and Resistant Children
Chapter 9: Special Circumstances

Section III – Professional Issues
Chapter 10: Ethical Issues in Representing Children
Chapter 11: Recognizing Risks of Bias and Illusion in Practice
Chapter 12: The Professional Toll

Index

Representing Children in Dependency and Family Court: Beyond the Law Rebecca Stahl ISBN 9781641051477, 978-1641051477 & 9781641051460

Authors
Rebecca Stahl
Philip Stahl