Newland & Newland, LLP Scholarship Winners

Chelsea Brunetti

Chelsea's experience as a single parent navigating custody challenges has given her a deep understanding of the gaps in proper child representation. Driven by her desire for change, she is determined to become a lawyer so that she can advocate for children and their well-being.

Read Chelsea’s essay:

Becoming a single parent is a life-altering experience, one that requires resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to one’s child. As a mother who has raised my daughter alone for the past five years, I have experienced firsthand the challenges and emotional toll of navigating both the joys and difficulties of single parenthood. However, it is these very experiences that have shaped my educational and career goals and have inspired me to pursue a law degree and become an advocate for children facing similar struggles. Specifically, my daughter’s ongoing legal battles, in which her biological father has returned to challenge our custody arrangements, have given me an intimate understanding of the flaws in the legal system and have driven me to seek a career as a child advocate lawyer. This journey, which has been marked by perseverance, frustration, and hope, has ignited a passion for helping children like mine who are caught in complex and often harmful legal situations.

When my daughter was born, I had never anticipated the path I would take as a single parent. At first, the decision to raise her alone was an easy one, driven by my desire to provide a safe, stable, and loving environment. For five years, I have poured all my energy and resources into supporting her emotional, physical, and academic development. Being a single mother has taught me invaluable lessons about patience, resilience, and the importance of advocacy. But it was not until her biological father re-entered her life and initiated a prolonged and contentious custody battle that I began to realize how unprepared I was for the complexities of the legal system, especially as it pertains to family law.

Over the past four years, my daughter and I have found ourselves entangled in a never-ending court case that has required us to attend multiple hearings and mediation sessions. Despite the emotional toll it has taken on both of us, I have always done my best to ensure my daughter’s best interests remain the focus of all decisions. Yet, one of the most glaring issues we have faced throughout this process is the inadequacy of the court-appointed Guardian ad Litem (GAL) assigned to represent my daughter’s voice. The GAL, whose role is to advocate for the child's welfare in court, has, in my opinion, failed to adequately understand or represent my daughter’s needs and desires. This has been a deeply frustrating experience, as I have watched the person who is supposed to protect her rights fall short in ensuring that her best interests are truly at the forefront of the proceedings.

I have witnessed firsthand the emotional and psychological toll that the legal battle has had on my daughter. The constant back-and-forth, the uncertainty about where she will live, and the lack of consistent representation in her best interests have all contributed to her stress and confusion. As a mother, it is heartbreaking to see my child suffer in this way, especially knowing that she is not being accurately or sufficiently represented in court. This experience has motivated me to seek a path that would allow me to change this broken system and provide the kind of advocacy that children in these situations desperately need.

My desire to become a lawyer stem directly from my personal journey as a single mother navigating a flawed legal system. Through my own experience, I have come to understand the profound need for compassionate, knowledgeable, and diligent child advocacy in family law. Children in situations like my daughter’s often lack the ability to fully express their feelings, needs, and wishes in a way that the courts can understand. Furthermore, the system is not always equipped to prioritize the emotional and psychological well-being of the child over other considerations. This is where I see an opportunity for change. I want to become a lawyer who can effectively represent children in family court, ensuring that their voices are heard and that their best interests are genuinely considered when decisions are being made about their lives.

My experiences have also fueled my passion for furthering my education. As a single parent, returning to school and pursuing a law degree is no easy feat. Balancing my daughter’s needs with my own educational and career aspirations has often felt overwhelming, but it has also deepened my resolve. I want to be a role model for my daughter, showing her that no challenge is too great to overcome if you are determined and committed. Every step of my academic journey has been a lesson in perseverance, and I know that the challenges I face as a single mother will only strengthen my ability to advocate for children once I become a lawyer. My experience in the courtroom has given me a unique perspective on the need for reform in the family court system, and I am motivated to use my legal education to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families who find themselves in similar situations.

Becoming a lawyer is not simply a career choice for me; it is a deeply personal mission to help children like my daughter who are caught in the crossfire of legal battles that they often do not fully understand. The pain and frustration of watching my daughter’s needs go unrecognized in the legal system have solidified my commitment to becoming an advocate who can make a real difference. I want to ensure that children in family law cases have an attorney who will truly fight for their well-being and ensure that they are not lost in a system that often overlooks their emotional and psychological needs.

In conclusion, my experiences as a single parent and my daughter’s ongoing legal struggles have profoundly influenced my educational and career goals. Through the challenges and emotional toll of this journey, I have found my calling as a child advocate lawyer. I am determined to use my education and experience to ensure that children who find themselves in difficult legal situations are properly represented and that their voices are heard. My journey as a mother and a single parent has shaped me into someone who is not only passionate about pursuing justice but who understands the critical importance of protecting the rights and well-being of children in family law cases.