1Ls join GAL program to advocate for abused, neglected children in Durham
Several first-year students are gaining first-hand experience working with clients and providing legal aid to at-risk communities by joining the GAL program.
Palmer, Rosenbloum, Judge Montgomery-Blinn, Mayer, and Beizer
Recently, four 1L students completed a 30-hour immersive training program to become Guardians ad Litem (GAL). These roles allow them to work with attorneys to investigate and advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children whose cases are referred to court by the Durham County Department of Social Services.
Lauren Beizer JD/MA ’26, Katherine Mayer ’26, Dylan Palmer ’26, and Sarah Rosenbloum ’26 were sworn in as GALs by District Court Judge Kendra Montgomery-Blinn '03. Palmer said, “The purpose of a GAL is to defend children who have no one in their lives to represent their best interests in the legal system. I want to do everything I can to make sure their voices are heard.”
Mayer and Rosenbloum set their sights on becoming GALs even before starting their 1L year.
“I was drawn to GAL because I have a passion for helping those in need, especially children," Rosenbloum said. "I am looking forward to making a difference in a child’s life by advocating for his or her best interest in the court system.”
Mayer added: “Serving as a GAL puts into perspective how truly lucky we are to be in this position. I am excited to be working on my first case and to give back to the community.”
The Durham County Guardian ad Litem program requires participants to make monthly visits to a child or children, interviewing people in their life, drafting court reports, and testifying about their findings and recommendations. The program requires a significant time commitment, including 30 hours of training, and GALs are expected to serve until a permanent plan is approved for their client.
Melissa Love, district administrator for Durham's GAL program, said, "The GAL Pre-service Training is interactive and covers an array of topics from understanding trauma and cultural sensitivity and the value of diversity to building relationships, assessing needs, and collecting information; and exploring how to deliver that information in a fact-based, child-focused report that it is useful to the court in determining what is in the child’s best interest."
At Duke Law, Jungi Hong ’25 serves as the student executive director for the GAL Pro Bono Project and acts as a liaison to both the Duke Law Office of Pro Bono and the Durham County GAL program.
“Foster children are among the most vulnerable in our society,” Hong said. “Being a GAL offers a long-term project to connect and advocate for a child in the system. Sometimes we might be the only consistent person in the child’s life. That duty is both tremendous and rewarding.”
Beizer agreed. “Growing up with a family who provided everything for me, I have recognized the privileged position I am in to be a reliable person of support for children who need someone they can count on through some of their hardest times,” she said.
Last semester, a group of five first-year students joined the Durham County GAL program, as well. Maame Adu JD/LLM '26, Emily Bass '26, Madison Detweiler '26, Arielle Roos '26, and Ryan Welch '26 were sworn in by Judge Montgomery-Blinn at the Durham County Courthouse on Oct. 27, 2023.
