--- title: "Plain-language letter to a child or young person client from their direct legal representative (NSW care proceedings)" url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/child-protection-and-care-proceedings/letter-of-advice-young-person-direct-representative" type: "precedent" site: "AI Law Framework" id: "a52-letter-of-advice-young-person-direct-representative" area_id: "A52" kind: "letter" ai_level: "yellow" version: 1 task_ids: ["A52-X20260927-4"] law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-18" --- # Plain-language letter to a child or young person client from their direct legal representative (NSW care proceedings) > Short plain-language letter to a child aged 12 or over, or a young person, explaining the lawyer’s role as their direct legal representative, what the court case is about, confirming what they want the court to know,… Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/child-protection-and-care-proceedings/letter-of-advice-young-person-direct-representative Law stated as at: 2026-10-18 Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt Short plain-language letter to a child aged 12 or over, or a young person, explaining the lawyer’s role as their direct legal representative, what the court case is about, confirming what they want the court to know, and how to get in touch. ## Key facts - Kind: Letter. A letter or email you adapt and send. - Practice area: [Child Protection & Care Proceedings](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/child-protection-and-care-proceedings.md) - Jurisdictions: New South Wales - AI level: Yellow. AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use. - Law stated as at: 2026-10-18 - Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-18 against the 6 authorities it cites, for New South Wales. ## When to use it Use after the first meeting with a child or young person in NSW care proceedings where the lawyer acts as a direct legal representative, and again after a significant court event. Do not use for a child under 12 unless the court has declared the child capable of giving instructions, or where a guardian ad litem is appointed. ## Used for these tasks - [Record the child's expressed views for the court](https://ailawframework.com/practice/child-protection-and-care-proceedings.md#A52-X20260927-4) ## How AI may be used The lawyer writes what the young person said and the advice; AI may simplify the lawyer’s wording and check reading level, for the lawyer to approve. **AI may:** - Rewrite the lawyer’s finished explanation of the process in simpler words or at a stated reading age, for the lawyer to approve - Fill court dates, the lawyer’s contact details and the names of the other parties from the file - Check the letter for jargon and for sentences longer than about 20 words **AI must not:** - Must not write, summarise or rephrase what the young person said they want: the lawyer writes section 3 from their own notes - Must not predict the outcome of the case - Must not include the young person’s placement address, school or carer details unless the lawyer confirms it is safe and necessary - Must not process casework records, reports or the young person’s words in a tool outside the firm’s approved environment **The lawyer checks:** - The lawyer is acting as a direct legal representative under s 99A, the child is 12 or over or the court has declared them capable, and no guardian ad litem is appointed - Section 3 matches the lawyer’s file note of the young person’s instructions and was read back to them - The letter is going to a safe address agreed with the young person, and the carer or caseworker will not open it if the young person does not want that - The reading level suits this young person, or the lawyer will go through it with them in person ## Authorities - [Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) s 99A (direct and independent legal representatives)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1998-157) - [Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) ss 99B, 99C (presumptions about capacity to give proper instructions)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1998-157) - [Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) s 99D(a) (role of a direct legal representative)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1998-157) - [Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) s 10 (principle of participation)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1998-157) - [Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) s 105 (publication of names and identifying information)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1998-157) - [NSW Police Force, For support (Triple Zero (000); Police Assistance Line 131 444; 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732; NSW Domestic Violence Line; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800)](https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/crime/domestic_and_family_violence/16_days_of_activism/16_days_of_activism_accordian/for_support) ## Full text and drafting notes The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/child-protection-and-care-proceedings/letter-of-advice-young-person-direct-representative and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm. *Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*