Resources

When working with children in legal proceedings, consent and capacity issues can arise in a variety of ways.

The potential danger associated with the life of those in the legal profession is an unpleasant topic of conversation among family, friends and staff, but avoiding the subject does not lessen the potential for harm.

Many lawyers and clients believe that a youth’s record is automatically sealed.

The landscape of services that are available to Indigenous children and youth continues to evolve.  How does this impact your legal options when advocating for Indigenous children and youth? 

Having to go to court and understanding what is happening during a legal proceeding can be hard enough for an adult client.

While children are not always parties to a proceeding, children are able to participate in legal proceedings in a variety of ways. 

The pandemic has led to public health protocols which have become sources of contention between parents who do not agree on what is in the best interests of their children.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has stretched on, family and criminal courts have had to adapt to ensure meaningful access to justice remains a reality.

In May 2019, the Ontario Ombudsman’s mandate was expanded to include investigations about services to children and youth under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, as the position of Ontario Child Advocate was eliminated.

The Cross-over Youth Project, a four year pilot project which concluded in July 2019, implemented and evaluated best practices aimed at improving outcomes for young people involved in both the child welfare and youth criminal justice systems.