LAC 22:XV.1311. Basic Obligations

A. The attorney should obtain copies of all pleadings and relevant notices. B. The attorney shall participate in all negotiations, discovery, pre-adjudication conferences, and hearings. C. The attorney should confer with the juvenile within 48 hours of being appointed and prior to every court appearance to counsel the child client concerning the subject matter of the litigation, the child client’s rights, the court system, the proceedings, the lawyer’s role, and what to expect in the legal process. D. The attorney should promptly inform the child client of his or her rights and pursue any investigatory or procedural steps necessary to protect the child client’s interests throughout the process. E. Upon initial review of the petition and initial communication with the client, the attorney should determine whether legal issues exist that warrant the filing of pretrial motions and file appropriate pleadings. F. The attorney should refrain from waiving substantial rights or making stipulations that are inconsistent with the child client’s expressed interests.