Can a 12 year old get a lawyer?

Yes, a 12-year-old can get a lawyer, especially in situations involving abuse, neglect, or custody disputes, where a court can appoint a special advocate like a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to represent their best interests, but generally, minors can't directly hire lawyers like adults; they usually need parental involvement or a court order for independent representation, though older kids with sufficient understanding (capacity to instruct) might be able to, particularly in places like the UK.

What is the legal age to have a lawyer?

You can hire an attorney at the age of 18. However, issues of custody and visitation only exist when a child is still considered unemancipated.

Who is the youngest lawyer ever?

The youngest lawyer ever is widely considered to be Sophia Park, who passed the California bar exam at 17 years and 8 months old in late 2024, breaking the record previously held by her older brother, Peter Park, and officially becoming a licensed attorney in early 2025. She began law school at 13, completed high school early, and now works as a prosecutor in the Tulare County District Attorney's Office alongside her brother. 

Can a kid ask for a lawyer?

Any young person facing a police interrogation has the legal right to ask for a lawyer before answering questions. Youth have faced coercive police interrogation tactics for decades.

What is the youngest age you can go to court?

The Commonwealth

Under the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (Crimes Act), the minimum age of criminal responsibility for Commonwealth offences is 10 years of age. Section 4M of the Crimes Act provides that a child under 10 years old cannot be liable for an offence against a law of the Commonwealth.

HOW TO BECOME A LAWYER - FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO LAWYER

Can a 12 year old testify in court?

Child's Maturity

Most states do not have a limit on the age of a child that can be allowed to testify in court, California does. If a child is 14 years or older and wishes to address the court, the child shall be allowed to.

What is the minimum age for jail?

There's no single minimum age to go to jail, as it varies by location and crime, but in the U.S., children as young as 10, 12, or 13 can face prosecution as adults for serious offenses, with some states even allowing prosecution for very young children (under 14) for severe crimes like murder, though it's rare and often depends on judicial waiver. Generally, minors go to youth detention centers, but serious offenses or transfers (waivers) can send them to adult jail or prison, especially for older teens (16-17). 

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially partners in large firms, top corporate attorneys, and successful specialists in high-value areas like M&A or IP, while elite personal injury and criminal defense lawyers also reach these levels; however, this is not typical for all lawyers, as the median salary is significantly lower, with the top earners achieving this through experience, specialization, location, and strong business development. 

How to get a lawyer for a kid?

Judges can appoint a lawyer if they think this is necessary to protect the child's interests. Judges can do this on the request of one of the parents or on their own. Children can decide on their own that they need a lawyer. A lawyer will intervene in the parents' conflict on behalf of the child.

What are the 3 C's of divorce?

The 3 Cs of divorce are generally Communication, Cooperation, and Compromise, principles that help minimize conflict and stress, especially when children are involved, by focusing on respectful dialogue, shared problem-solving, and finding middle ground for asset division and parenting arrangements. Some variations substitute Custody or Civility for one of the Cs, but the core idea is to approach the dissolution constructively rather than combatively.
 

Can a 10 year old get a lawyer?

Children in California are not entitled to their own attorneys, but in some cases, their interests may be represented by a minor's counsel, as our Stockton child visitation lawyers explain.

Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the bar exam, but not on her first try; she failed the Illinois bar initially, felt discouraged, but eventually passed on her second attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School and went on to have a successful legal career before becoming First Lady.
 

Who are the Magic 5 lawyers?

The "Magic Circle" refers to five elite, London-headquartered law firms known for their prestige and high-profile corporate work: A&O Shearman (formerly Allen & Overy), Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May. Coined by journalists in the 1990s, these firms are top players in global business, specializing in complex M&A, finance, and capital markets, attracting top legal talent and offering high salaries. 

Can I be a lawyer at 50?

Is 50 too late to start a legal career? We get these questions all the time too – and the answer is YES you can become a lawyer in your 30s, 40s and 50s – and no, it's not too late!

What is the 16-21 rule?

The "16/21 rule" is a colloquial term in California child abuse reporting for mandated reporters, meaning if someone 21 or older has sex with someone under 16, it's a mandatory report, similar to the "drinking age/driving age" analogy; if the older partner can drink (21+), the younger partner must be old enough to drive (16+), with exceptions for age differences or power dynamics, making reports necessary when a 21+ adult engages with someone under 16, as it's considered potentially exploitative or abusive, even with age-of-consent laws.
 

How old is an adult?

The "adult age," or age of majority, is legally 18 in most places (countries and U.S. states), marking when a person gains full legal rights and responsibilities like voting and signing contracts, but this varies, with some U.S. states (Alabama, Nebraska) setting it at 19, and Mississippi at 21, while federal laws set the drinking age at 21, showing adulthood isn't a single fixed age for all purposes. 

How to tell a kid what a lawyer is?

I also try to keep things simple with her. So, on this particular subject, I simply explained, “Lawyers help people solve their problems.” That seemed to satisfy her, for the moment.

Which lawyer wins most cases?

There's no single definitive lawyer with the most wins, as "most cases" is hard to track, but Gerry Spence is legendary for never losing a criminal case and not losing a civil case after 1969, while Guyanese lawyer Sir Lionel Luckhoo holds a Guinness World Record for 245 successive murder acquittal wins. Other highly successful lawyers include Paul Clement for numerous Supreme Court wins and figures like Clarence Darrow, known for significant victories. 

What looks bad in a child support case?

In child support cases, bad behavior includes poor co-parenting (badmouthing the other parent, using kids as messengers, interfering with visitation), financial dishonesty (hiding income, failing to pay), substance abuse, criminal activity, and poor online conduct, all of which signal instability or poor judgment to a judge focused on the child's best interest. Actions showing a lack of responsibility or creating conflict, such as threats, physical altercations, or even excessive calls to police, significantly hurt your case. 

Which lawyer is the richest?

There isn't one single "richest lawyer" as wealth fluctuates, but top contenders include Peter Angelos (personal injury, Baltimore Orioles owner) and John Morgan (personal injury firm founder) in the U.S., while globally figures like Wichai Thongtang (Thai corporate/investor) also rank high, with many building wealth through investments beyond just legal practice, like late Charlie Munger (Berkshire Hathaway, legal background) and Judge Judy (TV fame). 

Can a lawyer make $1 million a year?

Yes, some lawyers can make over $1 million a year, but it's not typical for most, usually requiring elite status in Big Law (as equity partners), handling massive contingency-fee cases (like class actions or high-stakes personal injury), or serving as top General Counsel for major corporations. These high earners are rare, often a small percentage of the profession, and achieved through specialization in lucrative fields, business acumen, and handling extremely valuable client matters. 

How difficult is law school?

Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.

Is 12 a minor age?

In the United States, a minor is any individual under the specified “age of majority” for their state or territory., All states define an age of majority, which is usually set at 18, but states like Indiana and Mississippi set it at 21, while in Alabama, Colorado, Maryland, or Nebraska, the age of majority is 19.

What is child in law?

Noun. child-in-law (plural children-in-law) A spouse of one's child; a son-in-law or daughter-in-law.

Is threatening a child a crime?

Yes, threatening a minor is illegal and can lead to serious criminal charges, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, resulting in fines, probation, or even jail time, as the law aims to protect children from harm, with prosecutors and law enforcement taking such threats very seriously, especially if they seem credible or are made online. Whether it's a misdemeanor or felony depends on the severity, context (e.g., school threat vs. personal), and the jurisdiction, but threats of violence or abuse against a child are generally treated as significant offenses.