What does a guardian ad litem do?

A guardian ad litem is appointed by a court to support a child or a vulnerable adult who is involved in a court case. Guardians ad litem speak up for the people they support and help make sure their rights are protected in court. A guardian ad litem helps the judge make decisions that are in the best interest of the child or vulnerable adult.
 

What does a typical day look like in this job? 

A guardian ad litem has many responsibilities, including conducting their own investigation. This may include getting to know a child or vulnerable adult and their family or talking to other people who might have information about the situation. They can also talk to teachers and medical professionals. After the guardian ad litem gathers information, they write their findings in a report for the judge. 
  
Guardians ad litem help the child or adult that they are supporting understand the court proceedings and their rights in the courtroom. A guardian ad litem is required to meet with the person they are supporting before every hearing unless the court gives them permission not to meet.

What skills or abilities are important for this job?

A guardian ad litem needs to have good communication skills. This is because their work requires them to talk to different people to learn about a child or a vulnerable adult’s situation. Confidentiality, keeping private information a secret, is also important for a guardian ad litem because they look at a lot of sensitive information about the people that they work with.

Additionally, guardians ad litem need to know about child welfare programs and other community programs that serve children and vulnerable adults. They need to know what these programs do and how to access them so that they can make sure the individuals they are working with can access them. Guardians ad litem also need to know the court rules and procedures because most of their responsibilities are related to court cases.  

What kind of education, certification, or training is required?

In Arizona, guardians ad litem are usually required to be licensed attorneys. There are a few steps to becoming a licensed attorney in Arizona. First, you have to earn a four year college degree. After college, you have to attend law school and earn a law degree. Finally, you have to pass the Arizona State Bar exam along with a character and fitness test, which are tests that allow someone to practice law in Arizona.  
 
Additionally, guardians ad litem in Arizona must complete six hours of introductory training before they can be appointed. This training must be approved by the court. Guardians ad litem also need to complete trainings every year after they are appointed so that they can stay up to date on important laws.

What is most challenging about this job?

The most challenging part of being a guardian ad litem is dealing with highly emotional situations. Many times, a guardian ad litem is appointed because someone’s safety or well-being is at risk. This can be hard for a guardian ad litem, because they may have to see or hear about very sad situations. Additionally, the families might be upset about having a guardian ad litem appointed, or the child/vulnerable adult may have different wishes than what the guardian ad litem recommends. In these emotional situations, a guardian ad litem still must advocate for the best interests of the person, even if people disagree with them. 

What is the average salary in Arizona?

Salary information for guardians ad litem in Arizona can vary widely depending on experience and location. Whether the guardian ad litem works part-time, full-time, or under contract can also affect their salary. Visit Salary.com or Zip Recruiter to see recent information about the average salary of a guardian ad litem in Arizona.