What an Amicus Attorney is
Duties of an Amicus Attorney
Conducting interviews
To be able to acquire a full comprehension of the situation, the amicus lawyer will interview the child in a way that best matches their developmental level. They'll also conduct interviews with the parties involved with the case and some other persons they determine to be applicable to contributing information about the child, the parties, and what could be best for your child. This might include teachers, doctors, friends, pastors or Sunday School teachers, or some other person the amicus desires.
Litigating the instance
Though the amicus lawyer doesn't have an attorney-client relationship with the child, they are still very involved in the situation. They are entitled to have notice of all court hearings in the case, to attend and take part in these hearings, to review pleadings, to sign or refuse to sign pleadings, and also to provide consent or refuse consent to any person wanting to interview the child.
Assisting the kid
The amicus attorney will help the child communicate their desires to the Court, if the kid wants the Court to understand their desires, whether the amicus attorney agrees that these desires are in the child's best interests. When it's relevant in the case, the amicus attorney will request such documents.
Obtaining documentation
An amicus lawyer has the right to all documentation from the child's school, pediatrician, law enforcement, Child Protective Services, and any other applicable agency or person. If it is relevant in the case, that the amicus attorney will ask such documents. They may also run a background check on anyone involved in the situation.