California Transition Aged Youth (TAY) Civil Legal Practice Exchange
The Transition Aged Youth (TAY) Civil Legal Practice Exchange is a statewide initiative designed to close legal access gaps for youth impacted by foster care and juvenile justice. As one of only two youth-focused Support Centers in California, YLC provides free legal training, technical assistance, and advocacy support to the state’s qualified legal services programs (QLSPs) serving transition-aged youth.
Funded by the State Bar of California, the Practice Exchange now includes over 40 Qualified Legal Services Programs and supports legal aid attorneys in delivering specialized services responsive to the unique needs of systems-impacted young people and their families. These youth often face barriers such as housing instability, inconsistent supports, and crisis-driven interruptions in services. Through this community of practice, legal aid attorneys and advocates are building the skills and strategies necessary to meet youth where they are.
One advocate put it best: “Accessing traditional legal services programs has proven challenging for youth in foster care as they oftentimes lack the time, stability, and skills to access these services. They sometimes change phone numbers, are forced to move with little notice, have life emergencies that require a pause in the legal action, or need additional support to engage in legal services. However, these barriers do not mean that the legal issues our clients face are any less pressing; rather, they mean that these young people need services tailored specifically to them and advocates trained to work with them. The Practice Exchange is helping to create a cadre of civil legal aid attorneys with the specialty skills and services who can work together to meet youth in foster care where they are and fill this legal gap.”
By fostering collaboration, training, and shared resources, the Practice Exchange strengthens the civil legal aid infrastructure needed to ensure youth exiting public systems can access their rights, stability, and opportunities for success.