Section 326 — Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989: Appointment of lay advocate

326 Appointment of lay advocate (1) Where a child or young person appears before a Youth Court charged with an offence, the Court may, on application by any person entitled to make representations in those proceedings on behalf of any person, or of its own motion, appoint any person, not being a barrister or solicitor, to appear in support of that child or young person in those proceedings. (2) Where the Court appoints a lay advocate under subsection (1) of this section, it shall, so far as practicable, appoint a person who has, by reason of personality, cultural background, knowledge, and experience, sufficient standing in the culture of the child or young person in respect of whom the appointment is to be made to enable that person to carry out his or her duties under this Act. (3) The Court may make an appointment under subsection (1) of this section notwithstanding that the child or young person is represented in the proceedings by a barrister or solicitor.