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This episode focuses on juveniles and juvenile law, starting with a discussion with a prosecutor and defense attorney who work in the juvenile justice system. They discuss their work, provide legal updates, and offer some sage advice for parents. The episode also includes statements from teens who want to become lawyers, a discussion with some lawyer parents who are raising teens, and statements from law students who volunteer to help teens impacted by the juvenile justice system. The episode concludes with a service spotlight that provides some insight into how minor trouble during the teens can contribute to major trouble later in life.

Juvenile Justice: "Get in Your Kids' Business"

Michael Hanson (Senior Counsel & Area Lead at Varghese Summersett) and Jamie Reyna (Juvenile Division Chief of the Harris County DA’s Office) discuss some important distinctions between the juvenile justice and the adult criminal justice systems in Texas, talk about some relatively recent statutory changes that impact juveniles, and provide advice for parents of teens in light of what they’ve seen in their professional lives. 

Juvenile Goals: Future Advocates

Behind the Lines asked high school students Yulianna Perales and Emily Castillo, who both want to be lawyers, why they are interested in studying law. Their short statements will remind you why you decided to enter this profession. 

*Coffee & Counsel: Parenting Teens*

Parenting teen-agers has its challenges for parents, and certainly teens with lawyer parents likely think that has its challenges as well. This inaugural “Coffee & Counsel” segment includes three lawyers discussing having teen-aged children: Chastity Horne (Horne Rota Moos), Courtney Ervin (Hicks Thomas), and Derek Hollingsworth (Drumheller, Hollingsworth, & Monthy). While there is some legal information included in the discussion, such as what advice to give a teen who is learning to drive, it is also just a discussion among parents who want what is best for their children.

Younger lawyer parents will also benefit from the wisdom of these more seasoned parents! 

Juvenile Allies: Law Students Making a Difference

Behind the Lines asked three law students who have worked with juveniles during law school, Amy Abbott, Raisha Williams, and Claire Wills. These students all attend University of Houston Law Center. Thank you to BTL Interviewer Chandria Jackson for recruiting these guests. 

*Service Spotlight: The Beacon*

Interviewer Ciara Perritano

New BTL interviewer Ciara Perritano talks with Stephanie Marrone (Managing Attorney, Beacon Law) about the services Beacon Law offers to help unhoused individuals get back on track. Topics include how issues that may have happened while clients were juveniles such as having a truancy or driving without a license violation, impact their housing status, and how Beacon Law and its pro bono volunteers can help. This segment provides substantive legal discussion about the different types of legal issues impeding clients from getting IDs and housing, such as name changes, expunction, and sealing. 

For full speaker bios, visit The Houston Lawyer (hba.org/thehoustonlawyer). To read The Houston Lawyer magazine, visit The Houston Lawyer_home. For more information about the Houston Bar Association, visit Houston Bar Association (hba.org).
*The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the views of The Houston Lawyer Editorial Board or the Houston Bar Association.