Terence Chucas has focused his practice on juvenile dependency law and family law since 1990. His work since 2010 has primarily entailed handling dependency appeals in the Second and Fourth Appellate Districts in California — San Diego and Los Angeles. Mr. Chucas assists parents who feel that their children have been wronged by the juvenile court system. In order to do so, he prepares and writes briefs that outline any issues that may be used by the appellate court to reverse the initial decision made by the juvenile court. Mr. Chucas guides his clients through the entire appellate process to help place children back home. To date, he has represented more than 1,000 adults and children in juvenile dependency cases. In 1999, he was invited by the Family Court to represent children in high-conflict family court proceedings. Between 1999 and 2010, Mr. Chucas represented approximately 200 children in high-conflict family law cases.
A Canadian native, Mr. Chucas served in the Royal Canadian Navy as a lieutenant after earning a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of British Columbia. After being honorably discharged, he relocated to the United States and earned a JD from Thomas Jefferson Law School. Mr. Chucas went on to spend the first portion of his career as a trial lawyer. After many years of 60-hour work weeks, he shifted his focus to juvenile dependency law to help children, make a difference in the lives of families in Southern California, and achieve a positive work/life balance. Mr. Chucas’ interests outside of the office include traveling, skiing, scuba diving, and seeing Broadway shows in New York City.
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