Abstract
In addition to appearing at formal court appearances and hearings, a lawyer for children in child protective proceedings can pursue his or her client's goals at interdisciplinary meetings. Because child protective proceedings involve professionals from many disciplines, almost any case encounter apart from an on-the-record court hearing could constitute an interdisciplinary meeting. This article assists lawyers in making the most of these meetings by offering a theory and practice of meeting practice, which often proves more important for a successful resolution of a case than trial practice. The article instructs lawyers in developing a comprehensive vision of the child's needs and goals that must guide all substantive decisions about the case. It also attempts to bridge the gap between the lawyer's ethical duty to advocate for his or her client's perspective and the duty of other professionals at the interdisciplinary meetings to pursue the child's best interests.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.