The Juvenile Justice Clinic

The Juvenile Justice Clinic at Loyola Law School provides holistic, client-centered advocacy for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. We join with movements that challenge institutionalized racism on all levels and seek to dismantle the systems that perpetuate it. We unequivocally stand with the Black Lives Matter movement in the fight against all systems which continue to oppress Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.  We continually hold ourselves accountable to our clients, to dismantling the unjust system, and to affirming the value of every individual we represent. In doing so, we are guided by three core principles:

Providing holistic, client-centered representation.  Our team of social workers, certified law students, and attorneys advocate for dignified solutions that meet our client’s stated interests.

Being conscious of the community we are serving. Our understanding that kids are fundamentally different from adults and face hardships unique to their developmental stage drives how we represent our clients.

Zealously advocate for every juvenile client. Every member of our team vows to decenter themselves and challenge their implicit biases.  The clinic trains future generations of defenders to celebrate and honor young people and fight for our communities.

The Juvenile Justice Clinic commits to breaking down barriers to justice and liberating all youth from the shackles of the criminal legal system.