A juvenile defense lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in defending cases involving a ‘juvenile’, or minor who is someone under the age of 18. In most states when a juvenile breaks the law the consequences are vastly different from the consequences to an adult who has broken the same law. Some parents are under the assumption that because their child is a minor the punishment will be minimal so there is no need to hire a lawyer, that they can handle the case on their own. Yes juvenile defense attorneys are not cheap but it would be a mistake to not hire one to represent your minor child.

A minor offense that an adult commits might end with no jail time yet may result in a juvenile judge ruling that the juvenile comes under the jurisdiction of the court. An offense that warrants a fine for an adult may result in the child being removed from the home or committed into custody of the juvenile jail authorities until such time the child reaches his/her twenty first birthday. This is why it is important to have an experienced juvenile defense lawyer representing any child who finds themselves in trouble with the law.

The majority of criminal defense lawyers concentrate on adult cases and rarely practice in the juvenile courts.  Since the rules and procedures in juvenile court are different than adult court this leaves them at a disadvantage. Don’t hire inexperience when your minor child’s future is at stake.