When a Child Needs a Voice: The Work of Minor's Counsel and Perspectives From the Bench

Every family law courtroom sees high conflict cases, but not every one calls for minor’s counsel. Comm’r Kendra Thomas (LASC) and Hon. Sonia Dujan (LASC) join Callie Kramer of Summers Levine Lipsic & Hersh, LLP to explain when bench officers make the appointment and what they expect it to accomplish. The panel covers how courts match the right attorney to the right child, the qualification requirements under Form FL-322, and how judges use the “reason for appointment” section of Form FL-323. They walk through the rights and duties of minor’s counsel under Family Code section 3151 and California Rules of Court, rule 5.242, including what a solid investigation looks like to the court. Advocacy is not evidence, and the panel explains what that means in practice. You’ll also learn how courts handle a child’s request to address the court under Family Code section 3042, why bringing a child to the hallway on hearing day backfires, and what judges do when a parent claims minor’s counsel is biased. Attorneys seeking appointments and parents’ counsel working alongside minor’s counsel will both leave with clear, practical guidance straight from the bench.