Children's Law Center of Massachusetts

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What is the Children's Law Center?

Am I eligible?

What benefits will I get?

How do I apply?

Useful links

What is the Children's Law Center?

The Children's Law Center is a private non-profit law firm that gives free legal services to low income children and youth in Massachusetts. The Children's Law Center also provides information and training for parents, advocates, school personnel, and service providers throughout the state.

The Children's Law Center provides free representation for children in legal cases concerning:

• child abuse and neglect
• custody disputes
• runaways, truancy, and other CHINS (Child In Need of Services) cases
• special education
• suspension, expulsion, and other school matters
• children with multiple needs
• other legal issues involving children in crisis

Funding for the Children's Law Center comes from private donors, corporations, community groups, foundations, and the Legal Assistance Corporation of Massachusetts.

Am I eligible?

To qualify for free legal representation:

• children must be under 18 years of age, or under 22 for special education cases
• be unable to afford a private lawyer

What benefits will I get?

The Children's Law Center provides:

• free legal advice and legal representation for children in crisis

• telephone assistance and referrals for children, parents, advocates, and service providers:

  Phone Assistance: 1-888-543-5298
  Hours: 9:30 AM to 12 noon, Tuesday and Friday

• Children's Pro Bono Program that matches children throughout Massachusetts with private attorneys who are willing to provide free legal services in education cases

How do I apply?

Anyone can request free legal representation for a child in crisis - parents, friends, advocates, and children themselves. To get help, call or visit the Children's Law Center:

Children's Law Center of Massachusetts
298 Union Street
Lynn, MA 01903
Telephone: 781-581-1977
Fax: 781-598-9364

For telephone assistance and referrals:

Telephone: 1-888-543-5298
Hours: 9:30 AM to 12 noon, Tuesday and Friday

Useful links

These links are external links to web sites that are not part of MassResources.org. When you click on these links, you will leave our site. Click "Back" on your browser to return.

1. Children's Law Center of Massachusetts
   Web site of the Children's Law Center with information about eligibility, direct services, referrals, and telephone assistance. Includes Community Education Materials with answers to frequently asked questions about legal issues involving children.

Children's Law Center section last updated on 4/30/10