Law Office Management
Jul. 2, 2008
The Child's Advocate
Leslie Starr Heimov weathers the homeschooling storm.
Operating primarily in confidential proceedings before the Los Angeles County Dependency Court, Leslie Starr Heimov's nonprofit law firm usually draws little notice. The Children's Law Center of Los Angeles, where Heimov is executive director, represents more than 25,000 abused, neglected, or abandoned children whose fates are decided behind closed doors.
But in February, Heimov, 45, suddenly found herself in the public eye when a petition from her firm led to this year's high-profile homeschool ruling (In re Rachel L., 2008 Cal. App. LEXIS 292), which is set for rehearing later this year. After the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles decided that homeschooled children must be taught by a credentialed tutor, bloggers and chat-room posters vilified Heimov for her part in what they characterized as a Nazi-like effort to criminalize parents who homeschool. (Germany outlawed homeschooling during Hitler's reign.) "It was really disturbing," Heimov says. "One guy said he'd see me in court one day, and God would judge."
Never mind that the firm had petitioned the court merely to order school enrollment to ensure the safety of two children whose father had been accused of physically abusing them. "When children are isolated, it's very difficult to protect them," says Heimov.
Advocating for the protection of children in the country's largest foster-care system has been the mission of the Children's Law Center since its founding in 1990. Heimov joined the firm in 1992, having developed a passion for helping abused and neglected children while working at a runaway shelter and a group home before attending law school at the Wash-ington College of Law at American University. At the center Heimov has been a staff attorney, a supervising attorney, policy director, interim co-executive director, and, since November, executive director. She oversees 100 attorneys, 50 investigators, and an annual budget of $17 million.
Heimov is "the complete package," says presiding Judge Michael Nash of the Los Angeles County Juvenile Court. "She not only has contributed greatly to virtually every aspect of our Dependency Court, but has also been a supreme advocate for children on the state and national level."
Advocating for a better foster-care system is integral to the center's mission, and it claims sponsorship of 15 laws enacted over the years. "If we can fix things at a system level," Heimov says, "we can be much more focused on serving each individual child's needs. The reason we've been so successful is because we have 25,000 clients who inform our policy work."
Alexandra Brown
For reprint rights or to order a copy of your photo:
Email
jeremy@reprintpros.com
for prices.
Direct dial: 949-702-5390
Send a letter to the editor:
Email: letters@dailyjournal.com