Judy Springer, Esquire
A Volunteer Child Advocate

Judy Springer is a partner at Fox Rothschild, LLP and has been a stellar volunteer attorney with the Support Center for Child Advocates since 2003.

Q:  What do you do when you are not volunteering with Child Advocates?

A:  I am a family law attorney representing people in divorce, custody, child support and adoptions.  That’s the work side.  I am also a mother of two children.

Q: How did you get involved with Child Advocates?

A:  We had a lunch meeting years ago when I was an associate and a couple of the attorneys who were active with Child Advocates told us about their experiences. It sounded like a great opportunity.  I thought I had a chance to make a difference in children’s lives.

Q:  What does being a volunteer attorney mean to you?

A:  It means being a role model and being able to help children who otherwise would not have a voice in the legal system.

Q:  How have your clients’ lives changed since you’ve been involved with your current sibling case?

A:  There are seven children. The children are much happier and much more secure in their home lives. They are all in pre-adoptive foster homes. They have been protected from abuse by their mother and others.

Q:  What outcomes do you expect for your clients?

A:  I expect them to be adopted and to continue to thrive in their home lives.  Five of the children will be adopted by their paternal aunt. One child will be adopted by godparents and one child will be adopted by a family friend.

Q: What has impressed you most about your volunteer experience at Child Advocates?

A: The support that we receive from Child Advocates and how great the social workers and staff attorneys are in providing support and resources for the case. I have also been very impressed by the Assistant District Attorneys and Police Detectives and how much they care about these children.  I have been impressed by how great those children are in spite of the adversity they have faced in their young lives.

Q: What would you tell people who were thinking about becoming a child advocate?

A: I would encourage any attorney in any area of law to become a child advocate.  It’s a great opportunity to make a difference in children’s lives who would otherwise have no hope for the future. Anyone who cares about children would make a good child advocate.

Judy Springer will be honored as Volunteer of the Year by the Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy at its Annual Luncheon on May 1, 2009.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer attorney or need more information, please contact Jodi E. Schatz, Esquire, Pro Bono Coordinator & Intake Attorney, at jschatz@advokid.org or (267) 546-9228.