NACC Child Welfare Law Certification

Promoting Excellence: CWLS Certification

The National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) offers a certification for attorneys to become a Child Welfare Law Specialist.

About CWLS Certification

Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS) certification is a professional achievement that signifies an attorney's specialized knowledge, skill, and verified expertise in the field of child welfare law. The specialization area is defined as "the practice of law representing children, parents or the government in all child protection proceedings including emergency, temporary custody, adjudication, disposition, foster care, permanency planning, termination, guardianship and adoption. Child Welfare Law does not include representation in private custody and adoption disputes where the state is not a party."

The CWLS certification process is available to attorneys in good standing who have spent the three years preceding application substantially involved in the practice of child welfare law. Traditionally, this includes providing direct representation to children, parents, or governmental agencies. However, NACC may also certify attorneys who have chosen instead to work in this field as judicial officers, law faculty, law firm directors, or policy advocates.

The CWLS credential is granted only to those attorneys who successfully complete a rigorous application and examination process - it is the highest testament to an attorney's dedication and demonstrated excellence in this discipline.

The CWLS certification program was created and sponsored by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Bureau and is accredited by the American Bar Association. The program has also been endorsed by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) and the Conference of Chief Justices/Conference of State Court Administrators (CCJ/COSCA). NACC also obtains the necessary authorization from state regulatory authorities such as the state court, state bar association, or committee on legal specialization.

Eligibility at a Glance

• 3+ years practicing law
• 30% or more of the last 3 years involved in child welfare law
• 36 hours CLE within the last 3 years in courses relevant to child welfare law
• A writing sample demonstrating legal analysis in the field of child welfare law drafted in the last 3 years that demonstrates legal analysis in the field of child welfare law

To learn more and to apply to become a Child Welfare Law Specialist, please visit NACC's website at https://www.naccchildlaw.org/page/Certification.

The Georgia Supreme Court of Georgia Justice for Children Committee, Georgia Office of the Child Advocate, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, and Georgia Attorney General encourage and support lawyers to become Child Welfare Law Specialists.