Understanding the Role of Youth’s Counsel | A Practitioner’s Perspective for Courts, Prosecutors, and Justice Partners

In CHIPS and delinquency cases in Minnesota, youths age 10 years and older have the right to a lawyer. Youth’s counsel’s role is to advocate for the stated interests of each youth and to maintain as “normal” a client-lawyer relationship “as far as reasonably possible.” Sometimes, in pursuit of a youth’s stated goals or decisions, the actions of youth’s counsel can at first appear unreasonable, unwise, and not in the youth’s “best interests.” In this CLE, learn from a youth advocate why fidelity to a youth’s stated interests as opposed to the youth’s best interests is so necessary and important in CHIPS and delinquency proceedings.

This CLE is approved for credit through May 4, 2025