Overview
Work History
Education
Affiliations
Bar Admissions
Timeline
Generic

SHANNON SHERWOOD

Philadelphia,PA

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Attorney

Support Center for Child Advocates
Philadelphia, PA
09.2019 - Current
  • Attorney on the Project for Children with Complex Medical Needs, managing a caseload of up to 25 children who have significant medical needs
  • Serve as a liaison with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to teach residents about child welfare
  • Consult with staff attorneys, staff social workers, and volunteer attorneys on matters related to medical needs of clients.

Attorney

Child Advocacy Unit, Defender Association of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
06.2015 - 09.2019
  • Represented foster children, serving as the child's voice and advocating for the child's best interest in adjudicatory, permanency, child abuse, and termination of parental rights hearings
  • Advocated for children outside of court by participating in client meetings, communicating with caseworkers and foster parents, and collaborating with Child Advocate social workers
  • Maintained regular contact with child and young adult clients
  • Wrote motions and appellate briefs in termination of parental rights, adjudication, and child abuse appeals
  • Managed a caseload of up to 160 children.

Law Clerk

Hon. Mark P. Tarantino, Burlington County Superior Court, Family Division
Mt. Holly, NJ
08.2014 - 06.2015
  • Wrote responses to motions during child abuse and neglect placement and review hearings.

Clinical Intern

Family Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic
Charlottesville, VA
08.2013 - 05.2014
  • Co-mediated child custody disputes to assist parents in coming to amicable agreements on custody and visitation
  • Participated in multi-day training on family mediation and other forms of dispute resolution.

Volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate

Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Charlottesville, VA
09.2012 - 05.2014

Clinical Intern

Child Advocacy Clinic, Legal Aid Justice Center
Charlottesville, VA
08.2012 - 05.2014
  • Represented children in family custody, special immigrant juvenile status, special education, child in need of services, and serious offender review hearings
  • Researched policy issues on shackling juveniles and advocated for policy change.

Legal Intern

Children's Law Center
Washington, DC
08.2013 - 11.2013
  • Researched legal issues for guardians ad litem, including children's rights to social security disability payments and the impact of adoption on immigration status.

Pro Bono Volunteer

Just Children, Legal Aid Justice Center
Charlottesville, VA
08.2011 - 05.2012
  • Conducted intake interviews with potential clients and worked with attorneys to advise clients.

Family Greeter Intern

Safe Passage Child Advocacy Center
Colorado Springs, CO
06.2009 - 08.2009
  • Participated in monthly case review of victims of sexual assault with attorneys, social workers, child advocates, and police officers
  • Performed outreach to past clients and organized support groups
  • Observed forensic interviews of children and parents/guardians.

Legal Intern

Support Center for Child Advocates
Philadelphia, PA
05.2013
  • Represented foster children in court hearings to ensure appropriate placements and to obtain special immigrant juvenile status
  • Wrote appellate briefs in termination of parental rights appeals
  • Visited children and families in their homes to assess placements and meet with children in a comfortable environment.

Legal Intern

DC Volunteer Lawyers Project
Washington, DC
05.2012
  • Researched legal issues for custody guardians ad litem; interviewed child clients and families
  • Wrote court documents, including motions to seal, motions to dismiss, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Student Teacher

School of Education, College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, VA
  • Observed and practiced teaching in 2nd grade as well as other primary grades
  • Participated in Individual Education Plan meetings for disabled students
  • Taught language, math, social studies, and science to students at different ability levels, including children with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Education

J.D. -

University of Virginia School of Law
05.2014

Bergstrom Child Welfare Law Fellowship, University of Michigan Law School
05.2013

B.A. - Elementary Education and Sociology

College of William and Mary
05.2011

Affiliations

National Association of Counsel for Children, Member

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 10/27/2014
  • New Jersey, 11/11/2014

Timeline

Attorney

Support Center for Child Advocates
09.2019 - Current

Attorney

Child Advocacy Unit, Defender Association of Philadelphia
06.2015 - 09.2019

Law Clerk

Hon. Mark P. Tarantino, Burlington County Superior Court, Family Division
08.2014 - 06.2015

Clinical Intern

Family Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic
08.2013 - 05.2014

Legal Intern

Children's Law Center
08.2013 - 11.2013

Legal Intern

Support Center for Child Advocates
05.2013

Volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate

Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
09.2012 - 05.2014

Clinical Intern

Child Advocacy Clinic, Legal Aid Justice Center
08.2012 - 05.2014

Legal Intern

DC Volunteer Lawyers Project
05.2012

Pro Bono Volunteer

Just Children, Legal Aid Justice Center
08.2011 - 05.2012

Family Greeter Intern

Safe Passage Child Advocacy Center
06.2009 - 08.2009

Student Teacher

School of Education, College of William and Mary

J.D. -

University of Virginia School of Law

Bergstrom Child Welfare Law Fellowship, University of Michigan Law School

B.A. - Elementary Education and Sociology

College of William and Mary
SHANNON SHERWOOD