Child welfare lawyers in Oregon represent the legal interests of minors before the court and the legal system. Child welfare law attorneys might be privately retained, serve as a guardian ad litem or be appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child. Issues for child welfare law include emergency custody hearings, child neglect or child support determinations, temporary custody, foster care, permanency planning, terminating parental rights, guardianship cases and adoptions. Child welfare lawyers in Oregon may work in private practice or for government agencies including child protective services, social services, or the foster care system.
National Association of Counsel for Children - NACC is accredited by the ABA to certify attorneys as child welfare law specialists and works to improve the quality of legal representation of children in dependency, juvenile delinquency, and family law cases.
Lawyer Referral Service of the Oregon State Bar - In Oregon, the State Bar has established a Lawyer Referral Service from its offices in Tigard, OR. The service helps individuals and businesses find a qualified attorney experienced in a variety of different practice areas. The service charges $35 for a 30 minute consultation with the local attorney. More than 1,600 attorneys across the state participate in the service.