Although it is usually the child’s parents or another family member who retain the child’s attorney, the juvenile defense lawyer’s client is the juvenile, not the parent or guardian.nnThe attorney must act in the child’s best interest, even when that conflicts with the parents’ wishes, but the attorney should also consult with the child’s parents or guardian before making any major decisions.nnThis also means that there will be times when the attorney must speak with the juvenile outside the presence of the parents or guardian, 1) to preserve attorney-client confidentiality, and 2) to ensure the juvenile client feels comfortable and can speak freely about what happened and what their wishes are.nnIn some cases, where the juvenile’s interests are adverse to the parents’, the court may appoint a guardian ad-litem who can speak for the child and advocate for the child’s best interests.