(3) Counsel shall investigate the interests of the child beyond the scope of the juvenile proceeding, and report to the court other interests of the child that may need to be protected by the institution of other administrative or judicial proceedings. Counsel representing a child in a dependency proceeding is not required to assume the responsibilities of a social worker, and is not expected to provide nonlegal services to the child."  Welfare and Institutions Code § 317(e)

Attorneys representing children in juvenile court are also held to “minimum standards of representation” under California Rules of Court Section 5.660. Section 5.660 requires a process for the review and resolution of complaints or questions regarding the performance of an appointed attorney.

 

Standards of representation

Attorneys or their agents are expected to meet regularly with clients, including clients who are children, regardless of the age of the child or the child's ability to communicate verbally, to contact social workers and other professionals associated with the client's case, to work with other counsel and the court to resolve disputed aspects of a case without contested hearing, and to adhere to the mandated timelines. The attorney for the child must have sufficient contact with the child to establish and maintain an adequate and professional attorney-client relationship. The attorney for the child is not required to assume the responsibilities of a social worker and is not expected to perform services for the child that are unrelated to the child's legal representation.
Calfornia Rule of Court 5.660(d)(4)

 

Requirement for Attorney to Provide Contact Information

The attorney for a child for whom a dependency petition has been filed must provide his or her contact information to the child's caregiver no later than 10 days after receipt of the name, address, and telephone number of the child's caregiver.

If the child is 10 years of age or older, the attorney must also provide his or her contact information to the child for whom a dependency petition has been filed no later than 10 days after receipt of the caregiver's contact information.

At least once a year, if the list of educational liaisons is available online from the California Department of Education, the child's attorney must provide, in any manner permitted by section 317(e)(4), his or her contact information to the educational liaison of each local educational agency serving the attorney's clients in foster care in the county of jurisdiction.  California Rule of Court, Rule 5.660(d)(5)

 

NOTE:  Some counties also have “Local Rules of Court” requiring more specified duties of minor’s counsel beyond the requirements or standards of representation required by Welfare and Institutions Code §317(e), and California Rule of Court, Rule 5.660. Please visit our Local Rules of Court web page for more information.
NOTE:  On November 1, 2018, new ethics rules pertaining to attorneys' professional code of conduct went into effect.  The California Rules of Professional Conduct are binding on all attorneys licensed by the State Bar of California.  New Rules 1.2 and 1.4 are pertinent to representation of clients (including minors) as follows:
Rule 1.2 Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority:  confers upon the client the ultimate authority to determine the purposes to be served by legal representation, within the limits imposed by law and the lawyer’s professional obligations.
Rule 1.4 Communication with Clients: requires an attorney to reasonably consult with the client to accomplish the client's objectives, keep the client reasonably informed about significant developments, and explain matters to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decision.

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The County is Obligated to Notify Minor's Counsel Prior to Placement Changes

As soon as the county case worker (or the agency) makes a decision with respect to a placement or a change in placement of a dependent child, there is an obligation for that case worker/agency to notify the child's attorney PRIOR to the change.  The minor's counsel shall be provided with the child's new address, telephone number and name of the caregiver.  If the requisite notice cannot be provided to minor's counsel prior to the placement change, the notification shall be provided no later than the close of the following business day.  Welfare and Institutions Code §16010.6(a)

If there is going to be a placement change that results in separation of a sibling group that is currently placed together, the child's attorney and the child's siblings' attorney (if they attorney is not the same for the siblings) must be notified of the separation no less than 10 calendar days prior to the planned change of placement so that the attorney(s) may investigate the circumstances of the proposed separation.  If the intended separation is due to seven days notice given by a foster family agency, group home, or other foster care provider, the case worker/agency must provide notice to the attorney(s) by the end of the next business day after receipt of seven days notice from the provider.  If exigent circumstances exist, the case worker/agency shall provide notice as soon as possible, but no later than the close of the first business day following the change of placement.  Welfare and Institutions Code §16010.6(c)

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For Foster Children/Youth: Reporting a Problem with Your Attorney

If you are a foster youth, both California law and California Rules of Court require that anyone who has a court-appointed attorney must be allowed to report a problem or lodge a complaint about their attorney to the presiding judge of the juvenile court.

The court must establish a process for the review and resolution of complaints or questions by a party regarding the performance of an appointed attorney. Each party must be informed of the procedure for lodging the complaint. If it is determined that an appointed attorney has acted improperly or contrary to the rules or policies of the court, the court must take appropriate action.
Calfornia Rule of Court § 5.660(e)

If you would like to contact the presiding judge of your juvenile court and report a problem that you are having with your lawyer, download and fill out the “Request for Assistance with Court Appointed Attorney” form and send it to the juvenile court presiding judge in your county. You may also download instructions for completing the form and a directory of mailing addresses for all juvenile court presiding judges in California.

Another recourse if you encounter problems with your attorney is you can contact the State Bar of California' Chief Trial Counsel and file a complaint for any unethical professional conduct.  For more information, please click here.

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Reporting a Problem with a Minor's Attorney

In some California counties, a complaint concerning the performance of an attorney appointed to represent a minor may be lodged on the child’s behalf by a caretaker, relative, or a foster parent. See our Local Rules of Court web page to find the rules in your county regarding complaint procedures.

If you are a relative caretaker or foster parent in one of the counties which allow “non-parties” to lodge a complaint and you would like to contact the presiding judge of your juvenile court to report a problem with the attorney representing the child in your care, download and fill out the Request for Assistance with Court Appointed Attorney form and send it to the juvenile court presiding judge in your county. You may also download instructions for completing the form and a directory of mailing addresses for all juvenile court presiding judges in California.

Another recourse if you encounter problems with the minor's attorney is you can contact the State Bar of California' Chief Trial Counsel and file a complaint for any unethical professional conduct.  You can make a complaint on behalf of a minor.  For more information, please click here.

 

Legal Disclaimer: Advokids provides educational information and resources to those who use our website, call our hotline, or submit requests for information via the website. Any information provided may not be construed as the giving of legal advice to any person about a particular legal matter and should not be relied upon as the basis for taking a particular action or refraining from taking a particular action in any legal matter. If you want or need legal advice about a particular legal matter, you should consult a lawyer.