SKILLS

Client interviewing

• The youth is the expert on their life, and consequently, their dependency case. Therefore, the most critical source of information for a youth’s attorney is their client. Some indicators of skillful client interviewing that a CIP can look for are:
• Rapport and trust building
• Private, confidential, and comfortable interview locations
• Open-ended questions
• Careful listening/observing of verbal and non-verbal cues
• For more information on client interviewing, click here.

Client counseling

• Attorneys are the only professionals in the case who can give the youth legal advice and advocate in court to further the client’s position and interests. An attorney must engage in meaningful, thoughtful, and frequent client counseling to ensure understanding and meaningfully engage youth in the court process.
• For more information on client counseling, click here.