“Lawyers have both an obligation and an opportunity to challenge the status quo and advocate for racial justice in the juvenile and criminal legal systems. Lawyers in Georgetown Law’s Juvenile Justice Clinic not only represent children charged with delinquency in DC Superior Court, but they also engage in legislative advocacy, community education, training, statewide assessments and scholarship that intentionally confront racial inequities. Equally important, our lawyers recognize that any work towards reform must begin with self-reflection and accountability. Lawyers committed to racial justice must first examine their own assumptions, stereotypes, and preferences, which subconsciously drive their assessment of the facts, their advice to clients, and the zeal with which they advocate for each client they serve.”
