Prior to joining the University of South Carolina faculty, he practiced at the Children’s Law Center in Washington DC, a legal services organization in the District of Columbia, representing children and family members in District of Columbia Family Court cases, and successfully advocating for legislative reforms. He has contributed to the District of Columbia’s 2007 statute governing custody actions filed by third parties, the re-establishment of a housing program for families of children at risk of entering foster care, and the expansion of guardianship subsidies to non-kin and extension of subsidies to age 21. He has written academic articles regarding various legal issues affecting children and the child welfare system, including issues related to kinship care, adoption, and guardianship.