We are often asked how effective court appointed lawyers are in the fight for parents rights in Family Court against ACS. To begin with, the vast majority of court appointed lawyers are very experienced. They have been plying their trade for a long time and understand how the courts work. Second, they are familiar with ACS policies and procedures and can guide a parent along this path. In the two areas that they fall short is in attention and stopping ACS abuses. Since their clients are indigent people who cannot afford an attorney, they have a very large caseload. This caseload does not allow them to give the necessary time that is required to properly defend an ACS case.
Also, and most importantly, they are not aggressive enough in defending their client's rights against ACS. The biggest example is that they allow their clients to speak to ACS workers without them being present. This is simply unacceptable. ACS workers have a policy that they do not speak to attorneys. Why? because they don't want to be held accountable. The right to counsel is fundamental in New York state. Once an attorney has been retained, only the attorney should speak on behalf of a client. This rule is ironclad in all other areas of the law and should apply to ACS cases as well. NYCACSLAWYER.COM
Also, and most importantly, they are not aggressive enough in defending their client's rights against ACS. The biggest example is that they allow their clients to speak to ACS workers without them being present. This is simply unacceptable. ACS workers have a policy that they do not speak to attorneys. Why? because they don't want to be held accountable. The right to counsel is fundamental in New York state. Once an attorney has been retained, only the attorney should speak on behalf of a client. This rule is ironclad in all other areas of the law and should apply to ACS cases as well. NYCACSLAWYER.COM
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