The Role of the Client-Directed Children’s Attorney

This webinar will provide an in-depth overview of the client-directed model of child representation, with a focus on the attorney’s ethical responsibilities. Presenters will emphasize the importance of engaging youth in developmentally appropriate ways to understand their legal objectives, render advice, and support their meaningful participation in court proceedings.

Through the use of hypotheticals, the session will highlight practical strategies for delivering high-quality legal services where youth perspective and legal needs are championed throughout the legal process. The webinar will also explore the national landscape of youth access to legal counsel and examine emerging legislative trends that support this model.

Presenters:

Allison Green, JD, CWLS – Chief Legal Officer, National Association of Counsel for Children

Allison Green, JD, CWLS joined Team NACC in 2019. She manages the organization’s policy advocacy, oversees amicus work, and provides training and technical assistance to child welfare practitioners nationwide.  Allison previously served as a Foster America Fellow at Missouri’s Children’s Division and as Senior Supervising Attorney at the Children’s Law Center of Washington, D.C. Allison started her career as a Jesuit Volunteer at Legal Services for Children in San Francisco and also worked as a counselor at a youth shelter. She earned her law degree at Georgetown, where she was a Public Interest Law Scholar and recipient of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy and Juvenile Justice Clinic Public Service Awards. She is a certified Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS) and has volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. She is currently licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C.

Jahlia Hernandez – Youth Voice Organizer, The Children’s Law Center of New York

Jahlia Hernandez is the founding fellow of the Children’s Voice Project (CVP) at The Children’s Law Center (CLC), an initiative that empowers children involved in custody, visitation, guardianship, and family offense cases. As a former CLC client, Ms. Hernandez draws from her 12-year family court experience to advocate for youth affected by similar legal challenges. CVP educates and supports children often overlooked in the legal system, especially in contested custody and visitation matters. Under her leadership, CVP develops youth-led, inclusive materials on the family court process, including the role of the Attorney for the Child. The project also recruits and trains former clients to become fellows who share their family court perspective. Ms. Hernandez graduated from Rowan University in May 2024 and will attend law school in the fall to pursue her goal of being an Attorney for Children. Through CVP, she works to amplify children’s voices and protect their rights in Family Court.

Christopher Imperioli, JD – Staff Attorney, The Children’s Law Center of New York

Christopher Imperioli is a staff attorney at the Children’s Law Center of New York (CLCNY) in its trial unit. He has over 18 years of experience as a litigator practicing in New York, with the vast majority of that experience in family law. He has spent the last 9 years at CLCNY directly representing children in custody, visitation, family offense (order of protection), paternity, and neglect and abuse (dependency) proceedings. He received his JD from New York Law School in 2006, and a BA from the State University of New York at Albany in 2003.

Natalece Washington, JD, CWLS – Policy Counsel, National Association of Counsel for Children

Natalece Washington, JD, CWLS, joined Team NACC in January 2021 as Policy Counsel where she leads the Counsel for Kids Campaign at the state level. The campaign influences and drives policy change to ensure legal representation for all children experiencing foster care. Prior to joining NACC, Natalece had 10 years of child welfare experience exemplifying her commitment to improved outcomes for dependent children. Natalece served as Policy Administrator with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, Director of Operations for Fulton County CASA, Inc., and Senior Child Advocate Attorney at the DeKalb County Child Advocacy Center. Natalece has been certified by NACC as a Child Welfare Law Specialist since 2015.