13th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program

The GAL Program represents the best interest of children who are currently under the supervision of the Department of Children and Families due to abuse, abandonment or neglect. Our Program consists of lay volunteers who visit the children, meet with parents, case workers, doctors, teachers, etc. and advocate for nessecary services. The GAL has a large role in the courtroom and participates in all legal proceedings.

Licensed attorneys may serve as Pro Bono Guardians ad Litem wherein they not only visit the child but act as the lawyer on behalf of the child's best interest. We do not provide direct legal representation to the children. Our program represents the child's best interest, which may differ from the child's expressed wishes. If that occurs, we request that the court appointed an attorney ad litem for the child.

  • County(s) of Volunteer Opportunity: Hillsborough
  • Area of law: Family & Juvenile
  • Populations Served: Children
  • Opportunities For: Law Students, Lawyers
  • Need for non-English services: Spanish
  • Hours for Pro Bono Opportunities: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
  • Malpractice insurance is provided for volunteers: Yes
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Training Required: Yes
  • CLE credit for trainings: Yes
  • CLE credit for pro bono: No
  • Mentoring or supervision offered: Yes
  • Volunteer lawyers need to meet a caseload or hours requirement: No
  • Other Project Types: Guardian ad Litem (Child Advocates)
  • Volunteers may participate long-distance: No
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