Example outcome
Youth matters
Juvenile shoplifting
The situation. A 15-year-old was charged after a group trip to a mall.
Our work. We met with the teen and the family, then asked for diversion with a short program.
Diversion completed
Youth and juvenile matters
When a teenager is charged, the court works differently, and so do we. Clear talk for parents, and a lawyer who speaks to your child with respect.
Juvenile cases go to a different court with different goals. The focus is meant to be the young person's future. Still, a juvenile charge can follow a teen into school, sports and job applications.
Daniela Ruiz handles most of our youth cases. She meets with parents and the young person together, then with the young person alone so they can speak freely. She explains every step in plain words. Hablamos español.
Charges we handle
- School-related charges
- Shoplifting and theft
- Fights and assault
- Drug and alcohol charges
- Underage DUI
- Transfer to adult court
What to know right now
- 1 Do not let your child talk to police or school officials about the charge without a lawyer.
- 2 Juvenile records are treated differently, but they are not always private.
- 3 School discipline and the court case are separate. Both need attention.
- 4 Diversion and programs are more common in juvenile court. Ask about them early.
General information, not legal advice for your situation.
How we build the defense
- Meet with the young person privately so we hear the whole story.
- Push for diversion or a program when it fits.
- Coordinate with the school on discipline hearings when needed.
- Explain records and next steps to the family in plain words.
We can't promise how your case will end. We can promise to check every one of these, explain what we find, and let you make the call.
Questions parents ask
Can I sit in on every meeting with my child?
You will be part of most conversations. We also meet with your child alone, because the lawyer's job is to represent the young person, and they may share things they would not say in front of a parent.
Will this be on my child's record forever?
Not always. Juvenile records follow different rules, and some can later be cleared. It depends on the charge and the outcome, so ask us at the end of the case.
Example outcomes
These are example outcomes written for this demo website. They are not real cases. Every case depends on its own facts, and a past result does not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.
Answered 24 hours a day
Is your child facing a charge? Talk to us today.
Your first case review is free. Tell us what happened and when your court date is, and an attorney will call you back. If someone is in custody right now, call us instead.