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Gator TeamChild Juvenile Law Clinic
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The Gator TeamChild Juvenile Law Clinic, led by Professor Stacey Steinberg, provides free legal services to children in foster care. As part of their training, staff and other mental health professionals introduce students to holistic approaches focused on resolving each child’s problem in a targeted manner. Children are referred for Gator TeamChild services by courts, guardians ad litem, school personnel, public defenders, prosecutors, state agency case workers, and other agencies.
Student Experience
“It offers a really unique experience for law students to be able to engage with clients and offer advocacy and representation as a law student. . . . I really like that you’re able to advocate on behalf of youth in the foster care system. There are so many layers of trauma that can compound. . . . [that] was one of the biggest takeaways from the clinic. It really shifts your perspective. . . . My pro bono hours will be geared towards juvenile law because this work fills a need not only within the community but also within the workforce. There’s a lot of opportunity to make a difference.”
— Gabriella Cerasoli (JD 25)
Gator TeamChild Clinic students and Professor Steinberg celebrate a successful case advocating for a young client in foster care.Pictured from left to right, back row: Catherine Grimley, Hannah Rice, Professor Stacey Steinberg, Megan Servant
Pictured from left to right, front row: Nicole La Roque, Brooke Sause, Cassidy Francies
“[In one case], this was a child who had been in the dependency system for so long. . . . It definitely made me consider doing family law or something involving the dependency system at some point in my career. It’s a humbling experience.”
— Shayna Schulman (JD 25)
Community Impact
Along with providing representation to children in foster care, Gator TeamChild also offers trainings on child welfare and trauma-responsive legal practices to community members. Please email Professor Steinberg to schedule a training.
Scholarship and Resources
- Blanton, Z., Gnatowski, M., Jenkins, M., Kagan, R., Roy, A., Shaw, L., Wendol, B., Wilson-Reid, M. (2022) Children’s Online Privacy: An Overview of How Young People Use Social Media and How Lawmakers Seek to Better Protect and Empower Families Online [Link]
- Blount, H., Figg, M., Finke, A., Gilbert, C., O’Connell, M., Minaya, N., Neeranjan, K., Rodriguez, A. (2022) COVID Aftermath: The Impact of the Pandemic on Florida’s Public School Students [Link]
- Gibbs, K. (2023) Florida’s Baker Act Laws: How Florida’s Excessive Use of Baker Acts Can Be Harmful to Children [Link]
- Grimley, C. (2024) A Parent’s Guide to Social Media Safety [Link]
- Cerasoli, G., DiLeo, M., Schulman, S., Sirvent, M., Ware, A. (2025) Trauma-Responsive Court Systems: An Approach for Attorneys ad Litem [Link]
- Parker, G. (2025) Law students at UF advocate for Florida children in foster care in University of Florida News [Link]
- Trauma Responsive Approach Handout (PDF)
- Professor Steinberg’s Publications
Contact
Stacey Steinberg
Director
steinberg@law.ufl.edu
Learn more about Professor Steinberg