Save Children, Save Money: Support Improved Compensation for Attorneys for Low-Income Parents
Thursday, February 2nd, 2023
SUPPORT Budget Amendment 44 #2s (Edwards): High-quality family legal representation has been proven to improve outcomes for children in foster care – without compromising safety. Virginia pays court-appointed counsel for parents at the lowest rate of any state: there hasn’t been a raise in 23 years. Judges say they can’t even find lawyers to take these cases; attorneys can’t afford to put more than a minimum amount of time into a case.
This budget amendment would increase court-appointed counsel compensation from $120 to $445. Federal funds are available to reimburse 25% of the cost, and it likely would be further offset by reduced foster care costs: better-prepared lawyers means fewer continuances and court delays.
Virginia spends $5,000-20,000 per month per child in foster care. If every one of the 5,000 children in Virginia’s foster care system spent even one month less in foster care, the Commonwealth could save at a minimum $25 million per year—more than paying for this increase.
When parents get good legal representation, children win!
If you are represented by a member of Senate Finance, ask them to fund this amendment!
https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/
Janet D. Howell, Co-Chair
George L. Barker, Co-Chair
Please SUPPORT Budget Amendment 44 #2s (Edwards).
Dear Senator Deeds,
I write to ask you to fully support Budget Amendment 44 #2s, increasing payments to attorneys who provide counsel to Virginia citizens having lower incomes.
I understand that the remuneration for attorneys in Virginia is the lowest in the U.S. in such cases — which is embarrassing to say the least.
I am a retired clinical department chair at the University of Virginia Medical Center. I took care of medical needs for all patients seen at UVA — Please work to support the same for legal counsel.
Thank you very much,
Wm. N.P. Herbert, MD
Former Wm. Norman Thornton Professor
And Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Virginia Medical Center
Charlottesville, VA
Please support Budget Amendment 44 #2s . Poor people need competent attorneys. Thank you for you consideration.
Susan Wuchinich
All Americans deserve quality, professional legal representation and not just in criminal cases, no matter the individual or family’s income level. A nation cannot be called a true democracy when legal services are accessible to the middle and upper classes but not the poor. The latter of which comprise nearly half of the U.S. population.
SUPPORT Budget Amendment 44 #2s (Edwards): High-quality family legal representation has been proven to improve outcomes for children in foster care – without compromising safety. Virginia pays court-appointed counsel for parents at the lowest rate of any state: there hasn’t been a raise in 23 years. Judges say they can’t even find lawyers to take these cases; attorneys can’t afford to put more than a minimum amount of time into a case.
This budget amendment would increase court-appointed counsel compensation from $120 to $445. Federal funds are available to reimburse 25% of the cost, and it likely would be further offset by reduced foster care costs: better-prepared lawyers means fewer continuances and court delays.
Virginia spends $5,000-20,000 per month per child in foster care. If every one of the 5,000 children in Virginia’s foster care system spent even one month less in foster care, the Commonwealth could save at a minimum $25 million per year—more than paying for this increase.
I work as a foster care worker in Richmond and I know personally the extent of this issue. Please take action!