He has conducted trainings for judges, lawyers, parents and child-serving professionals across the Commonwealth and worked extensively with state policymakers on matters impacting children living in poverty. Block serves as a member of the Virginia Bar Association’s Commission on the Needs of Children and is a co-editor of Juvenile Law and Practice in Virginia (Virginia CLE).

Block’s interest in child advocacy began after graduating from Yale University, when he taught for a year in a remote rural village in Kenya. Following that experience, he led wilderness trips for youth in New Mexico’s state correctional system and state mental health system. After graduating from Northwestern University Law School, he worked for the Seattle-King County Public Defender from 1994-97, where he focused most of his time on representing juvenile offenders.

In addition to directing the Child Advocacy Clinic, Block teaches a class on public interest advocacy skills and has previously taught seminars on children and the law.