TeamChild
Sara Zier is currently the Director of Legal Services at TeamChild, where Sara has also held the positions of Managing Attorney, Staff Attorney, and Soros Justice Fellow. Prior to their current role, Sara worked as a Law Clerk at the Washington State Supreme Court and TeamChild, as well as a Law Clerk at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. Sara has also served as the Education Director at the Legal Foundation of Washington. Sara holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from New York University School of Law, a Certificate in Public Relations from the University of Washington, and a BA in English and Political Science from the University of Washington. Sara is a graduate of Woodinville High School.
TeamChild
Every day, thousands of youth face profound legal and social barriers that increase their chances of dropping out of school, being homeless or ending up in the juvenile justice system. TeamChild uses its legal expertise and community partnerships to break down barriers to community services in order to overcome the root causes of a youth’s involvement in the juvenile justice system. TeamChild is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization. We provide free legal representation and advice to youth, as well as legal education resources and trainings to community partners. TeamChild’s advocacy and educational efforts create meaningful opportunities for youth and their families. They also strengthen social service networks, ensuring that all children have the support they need to succeed. Legal representation from TeamChild is effective in reducing juvenile court involvement and improving access to education, healthcare, and housing. Our services have won wide recognition as an innovative model of legal advocacy. TeamChild has offices in four diverse counties of Washington State and has been a model for other programs across the nation. TeamChild is a member of the Alliance for Equal Justice, Washington's network of organizations providing civil legal aid to people in need. TeamChild is also a member of the Washington Defender Association (WDA), a statewide membership organization for public defenders.