The Committee on
Children and the Law is renders information
and guidance to the Executive Committee, the legal community and the public on
the effect of existing laws and pending legislation impacting children, and the
administration of juvenile justice and child welfare.
In furthering its mission, the
Committee examines, studies and provides
comment and reports on legal issues related to the rights and interests of
children, in particular those involved in court proceedings; formulates and, with the approval
of the Executive Committee, publishes practice standards for attorneys
representing children in New York and periodically revises these standards so as
to keep them current with the development of the law; drafts and promotes original
legislation which it believes is necessary or useful to the rights and interests
of children; develops, coordinates and conducts
continuing educational programs; and recognizes
contributions to the areas of juvenile justice and child welfare.
HOWARD A. LEVINE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN JUVENILE JUSTICE AND CHILD WELFARE AWARD
The New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Children and the Law each year presents the Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare to recognize individuals who have done outstanding work to improve New York's child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The Committee on Children and the Law created the award in 1986. It is named for retired Court of Appeals Judge Howard A. Levine (Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP), who was the first chair of what was then called the Special Committee on Juvenile Justice. He has been and continues to be a strong proponent and leader in the effort to improve New York ’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
Honorable Monica Drinane (Supervising Judge, Bronx County Family Court, City of New York) and Honorable Vincent J. Reilly, Jr. (New York State Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District, Schenectady County) will receive the 2014 Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare sponsored by the New York State Bar Association Committee on Children and the Law. Awards will be presented at a ceremony at the State Bar Center on Wednesday, May 7, 2014.
For more information about the Howard A. Levine Award and nomination information, click here.
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in NEW YORK
Standards for representing children were initially developed for
a New York State Bar Association Law Guardian Study in 1984 (Law Guardians
in New
York State: A Study of the
Legal Representation of Children). Subsequently, the Committee on Children and the Law
(formerly known as the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare
Committee) concluded that Bar Association adoption and distribution of the
standards would prove beneficial to the bench and bar. The preparation of
standards and commentaries represent an important aspect in improving
representation, and in assisting the large number of attorneys who appear before
the Family Court.
Links to the revised and updated standards are listed
below:
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in New York (2011) (130 pages)
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings (June 2009)
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Person in Need of Supervision Proceedings (June 2008)
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Custody, Visitation and Guardianship Proceedings (June 2008)
Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in New York Child Protective, Foster Case, and Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings (June 2007)
NYSBA COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND THE LAW CHILD SUPPORT PAMPHLET
Download a free copy of the Child Support Pamphlet
To order copies of the NYSBA Child Support Pamphlet, click here.
For more information about the Committee on Children and the Law contact Katherine Suchocki, Staff Liaison to the Committee at ksuchocki@nysba.org or 518-487-5590.
