Hailey Fletcher, J.D.
Hailey Fletcher, J.D. is a New York–based legal professional focused on child advocacy and family law, currently serving as a Children’s Voice Fellow with the Children’s Law Center in New York City. In this role, she works on the Centering the Child’s Voice Project, a State Justice Institute–funded initiative aimed at strengthening how children are represented and heard in custody and visitation proceedings. Her work centers on ensuring that children in family court—particularly in the Bronx—have meaningful legal representation and the opportunity to express their needs, experiences, and safety concerns.
She earned her Juris Doctor from New York Law School (Class of 2024) and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminology from Drexel University. Throughout her early career, she built experience in child and community-focused services, including roles with the Administration for Children’s Services, supportive education and employment services for youth, and legal internships that exposed her to court proceedings and client advocacy. She later advanced to serving in attorney and fellowship roles at the Children’s Law Center, where she has combined legal practice with community engagement and program development.
Her professional focus is rooted in child representation, juvenile rights, and family court advocacy, with an emphasis on trauma-informed and community-centered legal practice. She has contributed to national convenings, school and community outreach programs, and interdisciplinary collaborations involving judges, attorneys, and child welfare experts. Pending admission to the New York Bar, she continues to work toward expanding children’s access to legal voice and representation, guided by the belief that children should be active participants in decisions that shape their lives.
• New York Law School - JD
• Black Law Students Association
• Women of Color Collective
• Children's Law Center
• State Justice Institute
• Drexel University
• New York Law School
• If/When/How
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, my lived experience as a young person who needed advocacy, and the strong mentorship and organizational support I received—particularly from the Children’s Law Center. My faith has also been a steady foundation that has guided and sustained me throughout my journey.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received was to be myself, because I am my own brand. In law school and professional spaces, it’s easy to experience imposter syndrome, but I’ve learned that authenticity is a strength, not a limitation. I don’t need to change how I speak or present myself to fit a traditional image of a lawyer; I bring value by being who I am. Staying true to myself and my passion helps me stay grounded, make the right decisions, and remember that while success may come in many forms, loving what I do is what matters most.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is to not let fear hold you back. It will show up, especially in law school and professional settings, but you have to keep moving anyway and trust that you belong in the room. Don’t feel pressured to change who you are or fit a certain mold—your authenticity is your strength. Stay grounded in your purpose and passion, because being yourself is what will carry you forward and ultimately lead to both success and fulfillment.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is ensuring that children’s voices are consistently heard and meaningfully included in legal proceedings, particularly in systems that were not built with them at the center. My own lived experience with juvenile justice and childhood abuse has shaped my commitment to this work. At the same time, there are important opportunities for change through initiatives like the Centering the Child’s Voice Project, where I work with a national advisory group, conduct school visits, and help develop frameworks that strengthen children’s rights and participation in legal systems.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, advocacy, and authenticity. Integrity guides my decisions and how I show up in all spaces, advocacy drives my commitment to amplifying children’s voices, and authenticity allows me to stay true to who I am in both my personal and professional life.
Locations
The Children's Law Center
Chester, NY 10918