Na Keiki Law Center - Consumer Lawyers of Hawai'i

In 1999, Na Keiki Law Center of Volunteer Legal Services Hawai’i (then known as Hawai’i Lawyers Care), Consumer Lawyers of Hawai’i, and Hawai’i Appleseed Public Interest Law Center created Children with Lawyers. This project helps children in need of legal representation on matters affecting their civil rights, health, education, and welfare. Children with Lawyers meets such needs through staff attorneys of Na Keiki Law Center and by matching its clients with local volunteer attorneys from Consumer Lawyers of Hawai’i who are willing to provide legal representation on a pro bono basis. These staff and volunteer attorneys provide timely and effective intervention and/or advocacy on behalf of children who cannot afford to pay for legal services.

The goal of Children with Lawyers is to ensure that children have a voice in the judicial process and that their legal rights are protected. All children under the age of 18, and in special education cases under the age of 22, are eligible for the services of Children with Lawyers.

Na Keiki Law Center, in cooperation with Consumer Lawyers of Hawai’i, and through the support of private attorneys, manages a volunteer program through which attorneys provide advocacy to children on various matters. Lay volunteers and students interested in law careers also work on a variety of projects.

Children with Lawyers provides “training and technical assistance to volunteer attorneys, guardians ad litem, schools, provider agencies, and other child advocates in Hawai’i in order to help them develop their skills in representing children.

In December of 2000, Children with Lawyers - was honored by the Honolulu City Council for helping provide legal services to children. CLH members Tom Grande and Frank O’Brien received the award, along with Na Keiki executive directive Annabel Murray. Over thirty CLH members volunteered for cases in 2000, including some of CLH's most prominent members like Jim Leavitt, Dave Robinson and Rick Fried.

Children With Lawyers is a combined project of the Na Keiki Law Center of Volunteer Legal Services Hawai’i, Consumer Lawyers of Hawai’i, and Hawai’i Appleseed Public Interest Law Center.

For more information please visit Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii's web site.