The mission of the Children’s Law Center is to protect the interest of indigent children in family court and to advocate policies, which advance their well-being and best interest. Through its programs and services the Children’s Law Center strives to create safe, stable environments for children whose parents are in chronic conflict. To achieve these goals the Children’s Law Center manages several programs including:

  • providing legal advocates to children through representation,
  • staffing a legal help-line that gives information and referrals on topics related to family law and children’s rights,
  • low-cost mediation services,
  • training and support for lawyers who representing children, and
  • advocating the systemic change regarding the rights and treatment of children.

    In November 1992, a six-year-old girl was shot and killed by her father during a supervised visitation session at the office of the Child Protection Council of Northeastern Connecticut. Out of that tragedy sprang a coalition of concerned professionals and parents united to examine the weaknesses in the system that had failed that child. The lack of legal services for children in family court was identified as a major concern, which led to the founding of the Children’s Law Center.

    In 1996, the Children’s Law Center hired its first staff attorney, Garret Tuller, through a contractual arrangement with Connecticut Legal Services. Under his direction the organization represented over 200 abuse/neglect cases in juvenile court. However, after his tragic death in 1999, the Board resolved to focus exclusively on the representation of children in family court proceedings.

    In 2002 the Children’s Law Center relocated its office to Hartford, which is more accessible to clients. In 2003 the Legal Representation Program served 139 children in four judicial districts. That same year the Children’s Law Line assisted 1,416callers from all over Connecticut seeking information regarding 2,070 children. And, lastly, more than 100 lawyers, children’s advocates and social workers attended the organization’s annual symposium.

    Unfortunately, there are many more children who need an advocate than we can help, and therefore the task ahead of us will be to continually expand our programs and services until all of Connecticut’s communities are served.

Justine Rakich-Kelly is our Executive Director.  She has been with The Children's Law Center since October of 2000.  She is a 1991 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law and has considerable experience in the practice of family law in Superior and Juvenile Courts.  Under her leadership CLC has expanded services to the New Britain Courts, and has also recruited trained mediators for our Families in Transition program.

    Randa Hojaiban, once an intern at CLC, is a staff attorney. She has been with Children's Law Center since 2001. Randa completed her undergraduate studies at Fordham University and is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law. She has also earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work which she applies in the course of her legal duties as well as is developing outcome measurement tools for CLC

    Nancy Strini is a Staff Attorney. Prior to joining the CLC staff, Nancy interned at the Children's Law Center while attending Quinnipiac University School of Law. She has continued to stay active with the organization as a volunteer mediator in the Families in Transition Program. Prior to enrolling in law school, Nancy was a senior executive at Reader's Digest Magazine.

    Like all of our organization's legal staff, most of her time is dedicated to the Legal Representation Program, primarily in the Waterbury Judicial District. She will also support the Children's Law Line, the Families in Transition Program and the Advocacy Program.

    Aisha McCluer-Fakhari is our newest staff attorney. Aisha completed her undergraduate studies at Goucher Collage and is a graduate of Quinnipiac University School of Law. Aisha graduated with an honors concentration certificate in Family and Juvenile law and is admitted to practice law in both Connecticut and New York.

    Shannon Wegele is our Development Director. She has been with The Children’s Law Center since April of 2003. Shannon has more then ten years experience working for Connecticut non-profit organizations. Previously, Shannon worked at the Connecticut Energy Cooperative where she was responsible for closing some of the cooperative’s most notable contracts for the sale of renewable energy. She is also the former Development Director for Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG), the state’s largest and oldest consumer advocacy organization.

    Hollis DeAbreu is our administrative assistant. She is a graduate of the University at Buffalo with a B.A in Political Science and a concentration in Pre-law. She is also a Certified Paralegal. In addition to handling general administrative duties, Hollis also handles the law line on a full time basis.

    Karen Renfro is an administrative professional. Her duties at the Law Center are currently concentrated in the financial department including billing. Karen has been with the law center for many years, where she has contributed to many different areas such as answering the law line calls, handling case flow, and acting as a liaison to court personnel. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of Oklahoma.  She has worked in the non-profit sector since 1983.

    Dori Bessette is our Marriage and Family Therapist. Dori will play a critical role in the organization. She works in partnership with the Staff Attorneys to collect collateral information and put into place needed services for our young clients.

    Bessette got her Masters degree from St. Joseph College and has experience in crisis stabilization and intervention. She says of her work, "I am excited to be working with such a dedicated team of professionals who share my passion in advocating for children."

    Numerous volunteers round out the CLC framework. Trained Mediators volunteer their time to partner with our attorneys making our Families in Transition a viable mediation program.

    CLC also offers internships for undergraduate and graduate students providing them with a realistic look into the legal system.

Name

Douglas Edwards, President

Moy Ogilvie, Vice President

Maureen Kirouac, Secretary

Sheila Moses, Treasurer
Barbara Aaron

J. Monica Barrett

Donna Bronwell

Bruce Clements

Sandra Gersten

Laura T. Grondin

Robert Madden

Moy Ogilvie

Debra Ruel

Jon Sinnott

Children's Law Center of Connecticut, Inc. • 30 Arbor Street, South Building • Hartford, CT 06106
Tel: 860-232-9993 or Toll Free: 1-888-LAW-DOOR
Fax: 860.232.9996
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