Shante’ Morales
Hazlet
Summary
Dedicated child advocate with over 25 years of experience serving and advocating for system-involved youth. A proven leader committed to social justice, policy reform, and high-quality legal representation, experienced in cross-system advocacy, team leadership, and developing innovative solutions to complex issues impacting vulnerable youth and families.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Staff Attorney
The Legal Aid Society- Juvenile Rights Practice
09.2020 - Current
- Represent children in Family Court proceedings, including abuse/neglect, custody/visitation, termination of parental rights, PINS, and Juvenile Delinquency matters
- Advocate for clients’ best interests, ensuring their voices are heard in all aspects of litigation and service planning
- Analyze legal issues and develop legal strategy on a case-by-case basis
- Mentor law graduates and interns, fostering a collaborative team environment and promoting best practices
- Interview clients
- Prepare clients for trial
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with judges, opposing counsel, and service providers to ensure the best outcomes for our clients
- Participate in the recruiting and interviewing of candidates for various positions
- Build rapport with and develop creative solutions to keep older, more challenging clients engaged
- Assist colleagues with their cases by providing insight or case coverage
Paralegal II
The Legal Aid Society- Juvenile Rights Practice
05.2018 - 09.2020
- Collaborated with support staff from other disciplines to ensure that cases with interdisciplinary overlap were conflict-free
- Conducted home visits and client interviews then drafted reports based on that contact
- Attended case conferences to advocate on our client’s behalf
- Drafted legal documents for staff attorneys
- Identified office needs and took the necessary measures to address them
- Performed legal research and digested reports
- Data entry
Law Graduate
The Legal Aid Society- Juvenile Rights Practice
09.2017 - 05.2018
- Gained knowledge of laws relevant to child protective cases and client situations through research, observation, and practice
- Represented clients' interests in court at various stages of child protective proceedings, including fact-finding, 1027/1028 hearings, conferences, and permanency hearings
- Conducted client interviews
- Created and maintained client files, which included all relevant case documents, including case Chronos, DARs, and referrals
Legal Intern
New York Law School- Diane Abbey Law Institute for Children and Families
06.2016 - 08.2016
- Drafted legal memoranda and reviewed proposed amendments to New York family law
- Published Post-Adoption Sibling Visitation: Implementing New York’s New Law (NYLS Journal, October 2015)
- Consulted on Broken Adoption legislation, providing insight as an adoptive parent and child welfare advocate
- Contributed to policy reform initiatives at the NYLS Impact Center, focusing on juvenile justice reform and the treatment of girls in the system
Legal Intern
Administration for Children’s Services- Family Court Legal Services
06.2015 - 08.2015
- Assisted attorneys with preparing and litigating child protective cases in Family Court
- Conducted legal research, drafted petitions, and observed courtroom proceedings
Education
Juris Doctor -
New York Law School
05.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Criminology
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
05.2013
Skills
- Litigation and Trial Advocacy
- Policy and Legislative Analysis
- Leadership and Mentorship
- Cross-System Collaboration
- Trauma-Informed Practice
- Client-Centered Representation
- Excellent Written and Verbal Communication
- Family law
Advocacy And Lived Experience
- Former foster parent with New York Foundling and Seamen’s Society.
- Adoptive parent, providing firsthand insight into the foster care and adoption systems.
- Advocate for reform in juvenile justice and foster care systems, emphasizing trauma-informed care language.
- Developed strong partnerships with community providers to enhance services and support for clients and their families.
Publications
Post-Adoption Sibling Visitation: Implementing New York’s New Law, NYLS Journal, October, 2015
Certification
Bar No. 5797634
New York State Bar
Timeline
Staff Attorney
The Legal Aid Society- Juvenile Rights Practice
09.2020 - Current
Paralegal II
The Legal Aid Society- Juvenile Rights Practice
05.2018 - 09.2020
Law Graduate
The Legal Aid Society- Juvenile Rights Practice
09.2017 - 05.2018
Legal Intern
New York Law School- Diane Abbey Law Institute for Children and Families
06.2016 - 08.2016
Legal Intern
Administration for Children’s Services- Family Court Legal Services
06.2015 - 08.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Criminology
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Juris Doctor -
New York Law School
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