This September, the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada celebrates Richard Erlich as our Attorney Volunteer of the Month. Mr. Erlich has been a dedicated volunteer in our Children’s Attorneys Project (CAP) program– his determination towards his cases has enriched the lives of multiple children.
Richard’s enthusiasm towards juvenile justice predates his role as a pro bono CAP volunteer attorney; previously, he had served as an ‘Educational Decision Maker’ under one of our organization’s various volunteer programs. In this capacity, Mr. Erlich advocated for students in the foster care system to receive educational accommodations and resources, ensuring these students had ample support throughout their academic journeys. He notes: “One child I worked with as an Educational Decision Maker (EDM) stands out—he aged out of foster care, didn’t graduate high school, but managed to survive on his own and kept in touch with me. Within two years, he earned his GED! That, to me, is a real success story.” Now, over a decade later, Richard still fervently focuses his efforts towards advocating for vulnerable children stuck in the juvenile justice system.
As a pro bono CAP attorney, Richard now involves himself in the broader scope of his clients’ cases– ensuring that their legal wishes and desires are taken into account by the court. He states, “this work is challenging. Representing children has made me acutely aware of how the law often overlooks their interests, favoring parents or the state instead.” To secure his clients’ trust and confidence, Mr. Erlich goes to extraordinary efforts to ensure he secures a face-to-face meeting– no matter the distance.
Most attorneys would shy away from the prospect of representing a client placed in a distant location; however, Mr. Erlich embraced the adventure. His client, shortly after the case was initiated, was placed with a relative, requiring extra consideration in navigating client meetings. Richard states, “Before stepping into the courtroom, I had to meet my client face-to-face, so I packed my bags and spent a couple of days driving and getting to know her.” Due to his tenacity, this child has a voice, despite being hundreds of miles away.
Ultimately, Richard states: “Pro bono work gives me a sense of purpose. It lets me feel like I’m useful, not just sitting on the sidelines.”
Richard Erlich graduated from the Antioch School of Law and practiced in Kotzebue, Alaska. Mr. Erlich operated his own private practice specializing in both civil and criminal matters. Additionally, he served as Guardian Ad Litem in children’s cases. For 19 years, until his retirement, Richard served as Superior Court Judge for the Second Judicial District.
