Juvenile Delinquency 101

Lawyers, as directed by the Code of Professional Responsibility, are charged with the expectation of advocating for their client. The Texas Family Code demands that the “best interest” of the child be served.  As advocate, a lawyer zealously asserts the client’s position under the rules of the adversary system.  As you will see below, there are several rules and regulations that govern a lawyer’s approach to representing a client and assisting in legal matters.  The crux of this discussion will focus on the ethical issues that a defense attorney may face while representing a juvenile and what steps you need to follow as you represent a juvenile client.