What inspired the Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program?
In a 2020 survey by Attorney Services, Nebraska judges reported a need for highly educated attorneys, with specialized training in child welfare, to serve in juvenile court. The study further revealed that the shortage is most prevalent in our rural communities. We have seen firsthand how the traditional law school experience doesn't provide future lawyers with the training and support they need to be effective attorneys in juvenile court while representing the county, parents, or children and youth. The Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program was created to serve as a resource to assist in filling this gap.
How is the Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program different than a traditional CLE program?
- Extensive Training. Fellows will attend four in-person workshops. Each workshop is designed to provide active and experiential learning to enhance your knowledge surrounding the legal framework and social factors in child welfare and youth justice. Fellows will gain invaluable insight into the subjects necessary to become strong advocates in juvenile court.
- Case Consultation. The Children’s Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program is designed for attorneys to have access to local child welfare and juvenile justice experts to address an array of legal issues involved in juvenile court cases.
- Multidisciplinary Teams. Fellows will meet individually with their Multidisciplinary Team consisting of a lawyer with juvenile court expertise and a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner.
- Specialized Expertise. Beyond Multidisciplinary Teams, fellows will have access to additional experts to help navigate the complexities of the juvenile system.
- Reflective Practice. Reflective practice is a relationship-based practice that assists in mitigating the effects of emotionally intrusive work by helping individuals examine their current and past actions, emotions, experiences and responses to evaluate their performance and learn to improve in the future. This process relies on using people's own experiences to help them become more resilient in the face of work stress. There is no question that the issues present in juvenile court cases can create this type of work, and even personal, stress. Fellows will participate in reflective practice with each other, facilitated by a reflective practitioner.
2025 Program Details
Timing
- January: CJAE Fellow application opens.
- March: CJAE Fellows announced.
- April-November: The Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program launches its first session in April and finishes in November.
Qualifications
- The Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program is open to those with licensure (or in current pursuit of licensure) to practice law in Nebraska.
- Legal practice in rural Nebraska (excluding Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy Counties).
- Commitment to participate in both in-person workshops and ongoing virtual case consultations and reflective practice.
Events
The majority of fellows' expert case consultations and reflective practice sessions will occur virtually and coordinate with your schedule. Fellows will attend four in-person workshops.
Courtroom Advocacy Preparation Using a Trauma-Informed Lens
April 23-25 · Kearney
Child Welfare Law: Informed and Compassionate Advocacy
June 18-20 · Grand Island
Understanding the Needs and Advocating for Older Youth
September 8-9 · Kearney
Understanding and Navigating Permanency in Child Welfare
November 10-11 · Kearney
Cost
The Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program is free to participants; in fact, we will pay you to complete the program. Attorney participants will receive $5000 for participation in the program in addition to mileage and lodging.
Impact in Nebraska
In its first three years, the CJAE has trained attorneys in 74% of Nebraska’s counties.
Outcomes for Fellows include:
Increased their time in juvenile court an average of 10 hours per week.
Significant knowledge increases in child welfare, advocacy, ICWA, and trauma informed practice.
Lower rates of burnout and vicarious trauma symptoms.
“The program has really improved both my knowledge and confidence in juvenile law by giving me a judgement free place to ask questions and grow professionally, all while getting to know an amazing group of attorneys from across the state.”
Amber Horn
CJAE FELLOW
CJAE Team
Michelle Paxton, Director
Michelle Paxton directs the Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program and the Children's Justice Clinic at the College of Law and the Center on Children, Families and the Law. Michelle believes that effective advocacy in juvenile court requires both an understanding of the law and appreciation for the complex dynamics of children, families and stakeholders comprising the child welfare and juvenile system.
Michelle received her J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2002. She has served as a Deputy County Attorney in Douglas and Lancaster Counties, specializing in juvenile law, domestic violence and general criminal prosecution. She also served as the Director of Legal Training at the University of Nebraska's Center on Children, Families and the Law, developing curriculum and training child welfare workers, probation officers and mental health professionals on all aspects of juvenile court process and procedure in Nebraska. Bottom line, while Michelle loves a good PowerPoint, she thrives by helping others be zealous advocates.
Hannah Cook, Associate Director
Hannah Cook is the Associate Director of the Children's Justice Clinic and Children's Justice Attorney Education program housed in the College of Law. Hannah graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law in 2022. After graduating, she worked for the Defender Association of Philadelphia in their Child Advocacy Unit until 2024.
Megan Harris, Program Manager
Megan Harris is the Children’s Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program Manager. Megan uses her years of experience in child welfare to shed light on the complex dynamics children and families face entering juvenile court.
Megan received her bachelor’s degree in human relations and her master’s in counseling from Doane University. She brings 17 years of professional experience working with the nonprofit community of Southeast Nebraska to the Fellowship. Megan has extensive experience with children and families including prevention, youth justice, foster care, in home services, and child welfare systems and services. She has a deep passion for improving the continuum of culturally inclusive care for children and families in rural communities.
Megan will help you identify social complexities while connecting you to resources and research. She will chat with you about any juvenile court and child welfare related issue to help deepen your understanding and spark new ways of thinking.
Terra Garay, Program Coordinator
Terra Garay serves as the Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program’s Coordinator. Terra brings her expertise working in nonprofit organizations and supporting students in the Children’s Justice Clinic. Terra will use her impressive skills to coordinate all CJAE in-person workshops, case consultations, and reflective practice sessions for the program. If you are having trouble accessing materials or with program technology, Terra is one click away. She will also be your BFF and ensure you receive your attorney stipend.
Lori Miller, Program Assistant
Lori Miller is the Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program Assistant. With a strong foundation in Paralegal Studies and Psychology, Lori combines her diverse professional experience and passion for helping others to make a meaningful impact in advocacy. Lori earned her Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies and Psychology from Doane University. She brings private practice experience in civil litigation, family law, and workers’ compensation, complemented by her time as a special education paraeducator. In addition, Lori has expanded her expertise to include human resources, where she excels in fostering inclusive workplaces and improving organizational processes.
With a unique blend of legal, educational, and HR skills, she thrives in fast paced environments where effective communication is essential. Lori approaches tasks with empathy and humor. She is always eager to share her insights, connect people to resources, and help others achieve success.
CJAE Case Consultation
If you have already stepped into a juvenile courtroom, you have learned these cases require an expertise beyond what you learned in law school. Don't get us wrong, we think law school is great which is why Michelle started the Children's Justice Clinic, but we know attorneys in juvenile court need more. The Children's Justice Attorney Education Fellowship Program has a team of experts ready to help you learn and take your advocacy to the next level.
Multidisciplinary Teams
A multidisciplinary team composed of an attorney and licensed mental health practitioner with extensive experience in juvenile cases will be paired with each fellow.
Sarah Kirkwood
LIMHP, LADC
Sarah Kirkwood is a therapist and owner of Bloom Counseling LLC. She attended Doane College where she obtained Master’s in Counseling and License for Alcohol and Drug Counseling. She has been a therapist in the field for almost 10 years and specializes in working with children and families who have been exposed to or have had various traumatic experiences. She is trained in multiple trauma modalities including Child Parent Psychotherapy, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, and Brain Spotting. She works with community partners to provide trauma training and clinical support through Facilitating Attuned Interactions. She collaborates with the community to encourage continuity of care and best outcomes for children and families.
Jen Rine
MS, LIMHP
Jen is a therapist and owner of Bloom Counseling, LLC, where she specializes in trauma and mental health services for adolescents and adults. She has previous experience as an Intensive Family Preservation Therapist and a Family Violence Specialist/Advocate. Jen completed the RSAFE training and specialize in working with youth with Problematic Sexualized Behaviors (PSB)
Tom Maxson
LIMHP, LADC, SAP, MAC
Tom is a therapist who specializes in treating co-occurring disorders, personality disorders, and working with individuals that have struggled with previous treatment episodes or providers. Tom is trained in the use of EMDR and DBT and works extensively with those involved in the criminal justice system.
Jennie Cole-Mossman
LIMHP
Jennie Cole-Mossman is a Technical Expert Lead for the JBS Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance project (OVC TTA). Ms. Cole-Mossman is a mental health specialist whose expertise spans child‒parent relationships, family drug courts, dependency court system work, opioid and other drug use disorders, and trauma screening and treatment for young children (ages 0 to 5). She brings a special expertise to serving the youngest children who are victims of trauma and opioid-related crimes. Ms. Cole-Mossman served previously as Co-Director of the Nebraska Resource Project for Vulnerable Young Children at the Center on Children, Families, and the Law, University of Nebraska, Infant and Toddler Court Improvement Coordinator for Nebraska and led the SAMHSA funded Safe Start project for young children in juvenile dependency drug courts. Prior to this she was in private practice for 13 years, serving children who experienced trauma, providing expert testimony and early childhood mental health evaluation. She conducts extensive training and provides TTA to strengthen relationships between providers of children’s trauma services, dependency courts, drug courts, and child welfare with a focus on increasing trauma care
Jaclyn Daake
J.D.
Jaclyn is a graduate of Washburn University School of Law, obtaining a Certificate in Advocacy with distinction. Since law school, she has established herself in rural south-central Nebraska as Deputy Franklin County Attorney while maintaining a robust private civil practice in Alma, NE. Jaclyn handles all the County's child abuse/neglect and juvenile offender proceedings; she is trained in reflective practice and was a foster parent for teens for 6 years.
Christopher Turner
J.D.
Chris Turner is the Chief Deputy of the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office. Chris has experience prosecuting a wide variety of crimes including murder, sexual assault, child abuse, and computer crimes against children. From 2018 to 2023, Chris was Chief Deputy of the office’s Juvenile Division which was responsible for handling all juvenile law violations and parental neglect filings that occur in the jurisdiction. He has previously been an Adjunct Professor at Nebraska Wesleyan University and the Nebraska College of Law teaching courses in Policing, Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice, and Trial Advocacy.
Jennifer Rowling
J.D.
Jennifer is a partner at Tye & Rowling, PC, LLO, in Kearney, Nebraska and has been practicing family and juvenile law for over twenty years. Jennifer has represented parents and serves as Guardian ad Litem, primarily in Buffalo County.
Amanda Speichert
J.D.
Amanda graduated from Creighton University School of Law. She is an associate at Lindemeier Law Office and is also employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the Lincoln County Public Defender Office. Amanda’s primary areas of client representation are Juvenile, Criminal, Guardianship/Conservatorship and Family Law. She serves as a Guardian ad Litem, and she is a Certified JTIP (Juvenile Training Immersion Program) through the GUALT Center (formally called National Juvenile Defender Center). She has served on the following Nebraska State Bar Association Fellow, Past Midwest Nebraska Drug Court Board Member, Past Co-Chair Juvenile Law Section of Nebraska Bar Association, Past Co-Chair Education Committee of Juvenile Law Section of Nebraska Bar Association, Past Executive Board Member of Juvenile Law Section of Nebraska Bar Association, Secretary of Through the Eyes of a Child -North Platte Lincoln County Team, Past President of Lincoln County Bar Association, and Parents Attorney Committee. She is currently involved in several Nebraska juvenile reforms and several organizations on a National, State and Local level. She also attends various training sessions pertaining to juvenile representations, criminal and family law to stay informed with changes.
Audrey Long
J.D.
Having graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 2006, Audrey is a solo practitioner in the Panhandle of Nebraska, with her primary practice in juvenile law, both removal cases and juvenile offender cases, and criminal defense. Audrey represents both juveniles and parents in juvenile cases in nearly all 12 counties in the Panhandle. She has experience working with ICWA cases as well. Audrey also serves on the Board of Directors for the NCDAA.
Specialized Expertise Consultants
Fellows will have access to additional experts to help navigate the complexities of the juvenile system.
Samantha Byrns
MSEd, LIMHP, LPC, NCC, IMH-E
Sammi is a therapist specializing in early childhood mental health. She provides statewide consultation and training and also offers Reflective Practice.
Elizabeth Eynon-Kokrda
J.D., MA
Elizabeth has focused her career on education law for more than 20 years and has served as the Chair of the National Council of School Attorneys and President of the Nebraska Council of School Attorneys. She became a founding member of Education Rights Counsel in 2017, building the expertise of ERC’s alliance of education advocates.
Angela Gebhardt
MFS, MSW
Angela has extensive experience working in the field of domestic violence for the previous 20 years. She currently trains new Child and Family Service Specialists on how to work with families experiencing domestic violence and has previously trained new specialists on human trafficking. In addition to sitting on various related boards and taskforces, she has led various domestic violence and sexual assault support groups.
Christine Henningsen
J.D. M.P.A
Christine specializes in interventions to enhance child welfare and youth justice services in Nebraska. As Associate Director at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center on Children, Families, and the Law, Christine develops training programs for helping professionals, and shapes policy and reform efforts through statewide committees. Her areas of expertise include quality representation of youth and parents, and she previously served as a public defender in Douglas County. She is a certified Youth Defender Advocacy Program Trainer through the Gault Center.
Jill Holt
MSW, MPA
Jill served as the Assistant Director of the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition (NICWC) for two years before transitioning to the Training and Education Director position in July 2021. She has more than thirteen years of experience with ICWA compliance through roles as a tribal ICWA specialist and ICWA Program Coordinator.
April Kirkendall
J.D.
April Kirkendall is a staff attorney with Legal Aid of Nebraska. She currently leads the UPLIFT Project, a community lawyering collaboration. April also has extensive experience representing parents and children in Juvenile court.
Lauren Micek Vargas
J.D.
Lauren began her career as a special education teacher and development coach in New York City before attending law school. She then worked as a Public Defender Douglas County in the areas of juvenile law and public defense before becoming a founding member of Education Rights Counsel.
Lindsey Ondrak
MA, LIMHP, LPC
Lindsey is the Early Childhood Mental Health Outreach and Training Specialist at the University of Nebraska’s Center on Children, Families, and the Law. She is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner and Licensed Professional Counselor providing outpatient treatment for children and their families with specialized training in trauma and attachment.
Amy Peters,
J.D.
Amy is an attorney with a private practice located in Lincoln, Nebraska. In addition to serving as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem in juvenile court, Ms. Peters also works as a consultant Legal Trainer at the CCFL, where she assists with legal training for newly hired Child and Family Services Specialists. She has also served as a Public Defender in Lancaster County, and a Staff Attorney in the Child Welfare Program at Nebraska Appleseed.
Pat Sailors
LIMHP
Pat is a Mental Health Administrator in a Private Non-Profit, active in his role of Director of Crisis and Residential Services for the past 35 years. He has specialization in Juveniles who Sexually Harm, Trauma Informed Care, and working with systems to meet the individualized meets of youth and their families. He has provided consultation to the State of Nebraska (NDHHS), Probation, Lancaster County, and the Courts. Pat also served as the lead clinician for a collaborative federal SAMSA System of Care Grant. He has extensive knowledge in the areas of working with Juvenile Courts, Probation, and NDHHS.
Jonathan Seagrass
J.D.
Jonathan is the managing attorney of Legal Aid of Nebraska’s Native American Program. Jonathan has extensive experience representing clients at the intersection of poverty, race, and Indian law, including in the Omaha, Ponca, Santee Sioux, and Winnebago Tribal Courts as well as in Nebraska State Courts.