SEMINAR: CHILD CLIENTS ARE DIFFERENT

Presented by the American Bar Association Children’s Rights Litigation Committee of the Section of Litigation, Commission on Immigration, and the ABA Center for Continuing Legal Education

Child Clients Are Different
Best Practices for Representing Unaccompanied Minors

Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Duration: 90 Minutes

1:00 PM-2:30 PM
Eastern

12:00 PM-1:30 PM
Central

11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Mountain

10:00 AM- 11:30 AM
Pacific

Approximately 8,000 children come to the United States each year without parents or family after fleeing their home countries due to the violence they witness or experience. Many have suffered persecution because of their gender, religion, or political opinions.

These children must face a government lawyer in an adversarial immigration hearing before a judge, though they may not even speak English. Their attorneys are their only assistants.

This expert panel will discuss the challenges inherent in the representation of unaccompanied children in these unique proceedings. Topics include:

* Cross-cultural and language issues when interviewing children and preparing them to testify
* Difficulties in obtaining corroborating evidence
* How to use experts
* Best trial practices

Program Faculty

Anne Chandler, Program Chair and Moderator, University of Houston Law Center - Immigration Clinic, Houston, TX

Brigette De Lay, Consultant on International Child Protection Issues, Evanston, IL

Vanessa Melendez Lucas, Children and Family Justice Center, Evanston, IL

Christopher Nugent, Senior Counsel, Holland & Knight – Community Services Team, Washington, D.C.

Anne Wideman, Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Services, Baltimore, MD