Lunch with CASA: Attorney Mark Beguelin at Red's Old 395 Grill in Carson City

If there has ever been a court case involving a hamburger, attorney Mark Beguelin probably knows about it.

The child advocacy lawyer for Washoe Legal Services in Reno defends his cases with the sort of vigor that he relishes great burgers.

Beguelin is so passionate about representing child welfare clients that he gave up a 25-year career in family law to focus exclusively on being a legal voice for children.

"The child is my client and I advocate for the child's wishes," Beguelin said. "I go to court and fight for them."

CASA of Carson City recently sat down with Beguelin during lunch hour at Red's Old 395 Grill in Carson City to find out more about him.

Beguelin ordered the Mighty Burger, one of his favorite menu items at the iconic restaurant.

"I'm a creature of habit, so I like this particular burger," he said. "The burger patty is perfectly round and it tastes really good."

But Red's holds the pickles for Beguelin.

"I like pickles on other things," he said. "Just not on burgers. They are a no-go."

Beguelin said he enjoys taking his lunch breaks at Red's because of quality food and service.

"They have really fast, friendly service and the food is really good with a good price point," he said. "Sometimes I come here for a longer lunch. I bring my files in with me and prepare here before going to court."

A hearty lunch at Red's helps Beguelin power through afternoon court hearings, where the child advocate is in his element.

Between bites of the stout Mighty Burger, Beguelin answered queries from Carson City youth, whose first names and questions appear below.

ISAIAH: I don't really know what you do, because I've never heard of a child attorney before.

MARK: A child advocate attorney is appointed by the court to represent the legal interests of minor children who find themselves in the child welfare system. The child lawyer's role is to make sure the child's voice is heard in court. These cases are all about the child. It's all about defending the child and advocating for their needs, wishes and concerns.

Beguelin said he is also a key member of the child-family team, interacting with court-appointed special advocates, parental attorneys, the district attorney's office, social workers, educators, clinicians and others to achieve outcomes in the best interests of the child.

When it comes to navigating divisions that often arise in a case, Beguelin said he's impartial to other parties involved.

"I'm as neutral as Switzerland," he said. "I'm beholden to no party except the child, and I bring an outsider's view to a very troubling situation."

Although a child advocacy lawyer has a similar role to a guardian ad litem appointed by the court, there is a distinction between the two.

An attorney is licensed by the state of Nevada, Beguelin said, with "the ability to not just advocate for the child, but also address legal issues, which do arise from time to time."

Beguelin said he and CASA both want what's best for a child, despite differences sometimes on how to achieve that.

"My relationship with CASA is very symbiotic," he said. "We don't always agree, and on the rare cases where we disagree, we understand those boundaries and work toward mending those fences to find out how to have a unified voice that promotes the best interests of a child."

MORGANA: What got you into this line of work, and why children?

MARK: Since 1991, I had practiced in the area of family law, including divorces, paternity, custody, visitation and many things related to a family that's being torn apart. I did that for 25 years. It was high stress, advocating for parents.

Many parents would take a position contrary to the child's wishes and substitute their judgment for the child. Rarely in family court will a judge meet with a child. They would not listen to their wishes or hear their concerns. I was frustrated by that.

When we talk about a child and fighting over them, it's about feelings, blood and love. It's the hardest thing in the world to do. I was frustrated that those voices were not being heard and left at the curb of the courthouse.

I had always admired the child advocate attorneys for what they do, so when I saw an opportunity to join Washoe Legal Services, I jumped right on, knowing I can make a difference. I can bring my tool set and my experience to the court room to fight for the child and be their advocate.

ANONYMOUS: What's your favorite part of the job? What makes you keep going, even when it's difficult?

MARK: The most satisfying part of my job is when I achieve a permanency plan for the child that's consistent with their wishes. It's an unhappy day when the child wants to be with one person, but ultimately the determination is they have to go somewhere else. That's sadness.

If a parent can mitigate safety threats and a child wants to be reunified with them, then I've done my job. The bottom line is, they have to be safe, secure, happy and have consistency and continuity in their lives. If we can give all five of those, then that's a win and it's a happy ending.

KATY: What's your dream finished product with this? What are you hoping to achieve before you retire?

MARK: My first goal is to make sure a child has permanency, a forever home where they want to be. The ultimate goal is for a child to say they want to end up in a particular place, and through my efforts, that can become a reality and the case closes with that permanency.

That is the short-term goal. Long-term is that I want to keep doing this as long as I am physically and mentally able. I will probably never retire!

But if he does, Beguelin said he has a number of interests that would keep him busy.

"I'm a home fabricator and handy man," he said. "I also like the outdoors. I like to go four-wheeling, camping and ghost town exploring."

AUSTIN: What was your childhood dream?

MARK: I was raised by a single mom and we had some hard times. I knew what food stamps looked like. We lived in low-income housing and I know what it's like to be on a wait list for Section 8.

My dream was, that wasn't going to be my life. I'd do everything I could to do the opposite. My mom did very well with the tools she had available. My dream was to pull myself up out of the welfare system. I pledged to myself that the end justifies the means. I worked hard and studied hard.

I was able to succeed with a happy marriage, happy home, happy personal life and a very rewarding professional career. I look forward to work, to getting up and going to the office. I'm excited and motivated to continue doing what I'm doing.

My dream all along was to have a job, a career, a home and a happy life.

Beguelin said every young person has a dream and he encourages each to pursue theirs.

"Dreams and goals can change over time," he said. "Always keep your eye on the ball."

"Education is priceless, so stay in school and graduate," Beguelin added. "Find a profession that will make you financially secure in the future. Do what you're happy with, good at and are excited to go do it every day."

MARY: What's something else you'd like to do if you did another job?

MARK: As I approached going to college, I was thinking about either medical school or law school. I flipped a coin and law school won. Had it been the other side of that coin, I'd like to be an orthopedic surgeon. I'm mechanically inclined. I like to build things, put things back together, and that's what orthopedic surgeons do. They rebuild bones.

ANONYMOUS: Taking the wish bone out of the turkey, what would you wish for and why?

MARK: Corny answers included, I want world peace and universal happiness. Seriously, though, what I want personally is to live a happy, fruitful life. I want to make sure that when I say good-bye to a client at the end of a case, they'll remember that experience in a positive way and hopefully carry those lessons forward, observing what their parents went through and apply that to their own lives.

In life, we have things that trigger us to make a decision, and every decision has a consequence. I like to help my clients understand that, and learn how not to repeat the errors of parents, make appropriate choices when triggered, and be aware of both the positive and negative consequences.

When I can help a child be happy, have permanency and be aware of their future, then that makes me happy.

RYAN: What's your favorite pizza topping?

MARK: Crumbled Italian sausage and red onions. I also add jalapenos to one half of it and a side of nitro chicken wings.

OWEN: What are your plans for Thanksgiving?

MARK: I plan on spending a long weekend near Camp Richardson on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. It's an annual tradition for my wife and I. There's limited cell service, priceless views and creature comforts.

ANONYMOUS: Do you think I'll struggle moving forward, as I'm currently on probation? And will this impact me long-term?

MARK: As a general rule, juvenile criminal proceedings are sealed and confidential, and that record ends when a youth is emancipated. With very few exceptions, whatever happened in the past, the legal system and our body of laws protect a person's juvenile behaviors so that when they turn 18, they get a fresh start.

Life is never easy when someone else is watching over you. It's hard enough with your parents, but when the authorities have the power to put you in jail and detain your liberty, that's a lot of weight on your back. It can be difficult.

But the system also lays out a path forward, so if you comply, follow the rules and stay out of trouble, you can survive and end that experience on a positive note.

I've had clients go through that, then come back to me later and say it was the best thing that happened to them, because it was a matter of time before they got in trouble and got caught. But now they've learned from their mistakes and are better people for it.

Washoe Legal Services is a Reno-based federally registered 501(c)3 non-profit that provides legal aid services to the community.

“We strive to ensure that everyone has access to justice, especially the most vulnerable segments of our society such as the indigent, the elderly, the disabled, immigrants, victims of crime, and children," the organization states on its web site. "Whether you are a woman who is trapped in an abusive relationship, an elderly couple living in an unsanitary apartment, an immigrant who wants to maintain his ability to work, or a child who has been removed from her home due to allegations of abuse and neglect, we are here to help!”

Visit www.washoelegalservices.org for more information.

We’d love to hear from children and their families in the community. Email us at casacclunch@gmail.com with questions for our guests.

Please remember the questions should be the sort you would ask a person when you want to know them better. We will not field questions related to child welfare cases, and we prefer limited questions about the professions of those we interview. All questions submitted will be screened and selected for taste and appropriateness.

Our next guests will be social workers with the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services in Carson City. We'll take a lunch break to find out more about them! Please submit your questions for the social workers by Friday, Dec. 20, 2019.

CASA of Carson City is a local non-profit organization that provides volunteer guardian ad litem services to child welfare clients in Carson City and Storey County. Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are the voices of children who cannot speak for themselves in family and juvenile court. As dedicated community volunteers, they advocate for the best interests of these children.

For more information on CASA of Carson City and to learn about becoming a volunteer guardian ad litem, visit www.facebook.com/pg/CASAofCC, email casaofcc@earthlink.net, or call (775) 882-6776.

CASA of Carson City holds information hours periodically throughout the year, so please check the organization’s Facebook events calendar and www.carsonnow.org for upcoming dates.