Law Department - Family Court

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	The Family Court Division plays a critical role in promoting the well-being of the City's children and protecting the general public. In prosecuting juvenile crime, the Family Court Division seeks to ensure that those who commit delinquent acts will be held accountable for their misconduct and afforded an opportunity for rehabilitation. The Division's work in the juvenile justice system also encompasses assisting victims of youth crime to secure ready access to a broad array of community-based services, including counseling, crisis intervention, and safety planning. In its civil practice, the Family Court Division aids families by bringing enforcement proceedings designed to obtain necessary financial support for children. As the second-largest division at the Law Department, Family Court attorneys are responsible for handling some 15,000 cases annually. The Division's 80-plus attorneys, aided by 50-plus support personnel, are assigned to one of five borough offices across the City. Division attorneys litigate their own cases, from initial referral through discovery, settlement or trial, to final disposition. This vertical prosecution system ensures that attorneys develop a broad range of skills encompassing legal writing, research, and trial techniques. Attorneys in the Division's Interstate Child Support Unit primarily handle child support petitions filed under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) by out-of-state jurisdictions or custodial parents residing in other states, U.S. Commonwealths, and many foreign countries. The Unit attorneys also seek enforcement of existing child support orders against delinquent non-custodial parents by pursuing remedies such as contempt and violation orders, money judgments, and arrest warrants. Our staff assist many New York City residents in obtaining paternity and child support orders. The Juvenile Delinquency Prosecution Unit, which houses the Major Case Unit and the Sex Offense Prosecution Unit, prosecutes juveniles accused of committing acts that would be crimes if they were adults. In cases where the Court finds guilt by plea or trial, attorneys then seek dispositions that balance juveniles’ needs and best interests with public safety concerns. Attorneys handle a wide variety of cases, including assaults, robberies, weapons possession, drug offenses, sex offenses, and homicides. Their courtroom skills are honed right from the start, with line assistants appearing in court under direct supervision soon after appointment.

	What New Attorneys Do First-year attorneys in the Family Court Division’s Juvenile Delinquency Unit will appear in court virtually every day. They are responsible for all aspects of the prosecution of juveniles accused of acts that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult. This means preparing cases from beginning to end. A typical first-year attorney’s tasks include: (1) interviewing victims, civilian witnesses and police officers during the investigation stage of the case, (2) drafting depositions (similar to indictments in adult criminal cases) and accusatory petitions, (3) preparing and conducting pre-petition detention hearings, which determine whether the juvenile be kept in the custody of the Department of Youth and Family Justice pending the fact-finding hearing, (4) preparing and conducting pre-trial hearings to determine the admissibility of physical evidence and confessions; (5) preparing and conducting fact-finding hearings (similar to trials in adult criminal cases), which determine whether the juvenile committed the acts alleged, and (5) preparing and conducting dispositional hearings (similar to the sentencing phase in adult criminal cases), where it is determined what services the juvenile who has been found to have committed the alleged conduct should receive and whether the juvenile requires placement outside of the community. The Family Court division is perfect for attorneys who want a fast-paced environment, who want to work in a team atmosphere and who have a passion for criminal justice and criminal procedure issues.

	What Summer Interns Do Interns in the Family Court Division prepare misdemeanor cases from the initial intake process through trial. Summer interns assist in and conduct interviews with complainants and law enforcement personnel with the goal of drafting accusatory petitions. Summer interns appear in Family Court to conduct pre-petition detention hearings (where a decision is made whether to hold the accused in custody pending the outcome of the case), arraignments, court conferences, evidence suppression hearings, fact-finding hearings (at which guilt or innocence is established) and dispositional hearings (where the court determines the appropriate penalties or services to be provided.) Interns can argue on the record in Family Court, under the supervision of an attorney, pursuant to a student practice order. Each intern will be assigned a research and writing assignment pertaining to a relevant or important legal issue.

	View the Law Department's Annual Reports for More Information about the Family Court Division