Tom Rawlings

Tom Rawlings brings 30 years of legal experience in juvenile justice, child protection, and capacity-building to Taylor English. As a member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, Mr. Rawlings concentrates his practice on advising and defending youth-serving organizations. He has spent more than 20 years representing and serving institutional clients with a focus on vulnerable populations, including children and families, juveniles, and individuals living with poverty, food insecurity, and medical disabilities.

Prior to joining Taylor English, Mr. Rawlings served as the director of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. He was previously the director of the Office of the Child Advocate. Mr. Rawlings was the first full-time juvenile court judge in the Middle Judicial Circuit and oversaw juvenile justice cases in five counties.

In addition to his work in the US, Mr. Rawlings has also served as the Guatemala country director for International Justice Mission, where he built and led a team of Guatemalan professionals who worked with government prosecutors and courts to protect and treat child sexual abuse victims, prosecute offenders, and train child abuse professionals. He has trained child welfare, justice, and human rights professionals across the US as well as in Armenia, Romania, and Thailand.

Mr. Rawlings earned a Masters’ degree in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University (UK), and is certified by the National Association of Counsel for Children as Child Welfare Law Specialist.

Affiliations

• Connections Homes, National Advisory Board, 2021-present
• Kids Alive International, Board of Directors, Lead Director on Safeguarding Committee, 2020-present
• Washington County (Georgia) Board of Education, Chairman, January 2015-December 2018
• Wellroot Family Services, Board of Directors, 2021-present

Recognitions

• Fulbright Senior Specialist in Law, 2005-2010
• Harold K. Ables Award, Georgia Juvenile Services Association, August 2013