ABOUT US
Our mission at TLC is to ensure the effective and zealous representation of abused and neglected children in Tulsa County by recruiting, training and assisting volunteer attorneys.
In the late 1990’s, a need arose in Tulsa County for lawyers to provide pro bono representation for children who were suspected of being abused, neglected or abandoned when the Public Defender could not represent these children due to a conflict with the parents or guardians. So through the efforts of the Tulsa County Bar Association and its committee on Children and the Law, Tulsa Lawyers for Children – TLC – was formed in April 2000.
TLC has two goals:
01.
TLC accepts court appointments when there is a conflict of interest; for example, when the Public Defender’s Office represents a parent or when various siblings desire a different outcome in the case.
02.
TLC provides appropriate training to ensure volunteer attorneys representing children have the professional skill and competence required to practice in this specialized area of the law.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Allen M. Smallwood, President
Steve Heinen, Vice President
Gable Gotwals
Angela Moore, CPA, Treasurer
Helmerich Family Office LLC
Margo E. Shipley, Secretary
Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C.
Arianna Cole, Student Representative
The University of Tulsa – College of Law
R. Daniel Carter
Conner & Winters
Amber Howard Cornelius
Needham & Associates, PLLC
Charles Greenough
McAfee Taft
Evelyn Hutchison
The University of Tulsa – College of Law
Thomas J. Kirby
Retired
Mike Manning
The Manning Law Firm
Lorena Rivas
Fry & Elder
Rachel Wilhelm
Bank of Oklahoma
TLC STAFF
Elizabeth Carroll Hocker, MS, JD
Executive Director
echocker@tulsakidlaw.org
Phone: 918.425.5858 ext. 200
Sonya Pyles
Program Coordinator
volunteer@tulsakidlaw.org
Phone: 918.425.5858 ext. 202
Timothy Michaels-Johnson, JD
Program Director, Senior Staff Attorney
timothy@tulsakidlaw.org
Phone: 918.425.5858 ext. 201
Courtney Nelbach, JD
Staff Attorney
courtney@tulsakidlaw.org
Phone: 918.425.5858
