EVERY CHILD'S
VOICE MATTERS
OUR MISSION
Children's Legal Services of San Diego protects and defends the rights of children and youth in the child welfare system through high-quality and compassionate legal representation.
CLSSD is a non-profit, interdisciplinary organization that consists of four law firms. We are the court-appointed legal team for all youth who have an active dependency case in San Diego Juvenile Court.
OUR VALUES
Client-centered – We value and actively listen to the voices of our clients and represent their unique, holistic needs.
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Zealous – We are courageous leaders in our advocacy for the protection of each child’s right to safety, stability and well-being.
Collaborative – We work as a team through meaningful dialogues and formalized partnerships, internally and externally, to achieve positive outcomes.
Compassionate – We provide culturally competent services and strive to achieve social justice and dignity for the most vulnerable.
Excellence – We exhibit quality legal representation by ensuring our staff are highly trained and practice with dedication and commitment.
Trustworthy – We gain the trust of our clients, partners and peers by consistently exhibiting knowledge and integrity.
OUR COMMITMENT
DEI Statement
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At CLSSD, we are committed to addressing the structural racism and biases that lead to unfair legal outcomes for BIPOC* and LGBTQ+** youth, children with disabilities, and those living in poverty. We aim to disrupt the patterns of inequality in the Child Welfare system, where foster youth are more likely to face mental health challenges1, lower graduation rates2, and a greater likelihood of entering the criminal justice system3.
Through compassionate, multi-disciplinary representation, we amplify our clients' voices in decisions that matter both inside and outside the courtroom. We believe in a fair and just system that honors the integrity of those it serves and protects. We are dedicated to repairing the systemic injustices that disproportionately impact youth within historically marginalized communities. Our goal is to create equal access to justice, promote racial equity, and foster empathy for our clients.
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In addition to our work in the community, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture of acceptance, respect, and inclusion. We value diversity within our team and actively work to recruit, hire, and retain staff that reflects the populations we serve.
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We are committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in all aspects of our work. We are focused on building a more inclusive future where everyone has the chance for a better outcome.
1 https://www.ncsl.org/human-services/mental-health-and-foster-care
3 https://www.crimlawpractitioner.org/post/the-foster-care-to-prison-pipeline-a-road-to-incarceration
*BIPOC = Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
**LGBTQ+ = Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and more