The Children's Law Center (CLC) plays a unique role in Connecticut's legal aid community as the only agency solely devoted to indigent children in Family Court. Our cases are among the most complex which are exacerbated by conditions of domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, addiction, mental illness, incarceration, police involvement, or chronic conflict.

It is through our programs and services that we strive to create safe, stable environments for children whose parents are in chronic conflict. In 2024, CLC helped over 1400 children. We provided legal representation to 631 children, mediated 47 families affecting 70 children, and answered 513 hotline calls affecting 722 children!

Legal Representation Program provides high quality representation to children whose parents are embroiled in a high-conflict family court case. All of our cases are court-appointed. What sets our program apart is we have an attorney/mental health team who works together in developing legal strategies that address both the needs of the family and the well-being of the children.

Families in Transition is a mediation program that provides an opportunity for parents to work out their disputes outside of court. Participants are paired with a gender-balanced team consisting of an attorney and a mental health worker, both of whom are very familiar with the family court process. The services are provided on a sliding fee scale so that all families have access to a non-adversarial option for restructuring their families.

The Children's Lawline is a free, easily accessible legal hotline where callers receive legal advice on a variety of family law issues. This resource gives callers the guidance they need to navigate the labyrinth of agencies, courts, and laws that are often overwhelming.