This presentation will provide information regarding children with special needs, differences in their development, and the need for individualized parenting plans or custodial plans. The goal is to provide relevant
references and information to familiarize participants with the unique needs of children with special needs.
 

Determining When Children Should be Involved; Preparing a Child for Testifying in Court; Alternative Means of Obtaining a Child's Input (FC 3042(e))

This training delivers tools and strategies for working with multidisciplinary experts so that, as a minor's counsel, you receive high-quality data and families get high-quality care. This includes:  

• Building Alliances + Steering the Ship 

• Defining Roles + Boundaries 

• Assessing Expert Credibility 

• Working with Polarized Team Members 

• Tools For Giving Hard yet Effective Feedback 

Topics include:  

• How a conflict can develop 

• How to spot a potential conflict 

• How to address the court when a conflict arises 

• How to (try and) avoid a conflict from arising 

• What to do when one or more sibling is aligning with one parent 

• What to do when one or more sibling's refuse/resist dynamic affects the other child(ren) 

• How to handle it when one sibling is abusive to another sibling (verbal, physical, sexual) 

Discussion Includes: Authority for Appointment (FC3150, Rules of Court
5.240); Duties and Rights of Counsel (FC 3151, Rules of Court 5.242);
Compensation of Counsel (FC3153, Rules of Court 5.241); Qualifications of
Counsel (Rules of Court 5.242); Child's Participation in Proceedings (Rules
of Court 5.250)
 

The practice of family law requires cross-cultural competence by the attorney and their staff to ensure access to justice, equity, and fairness. Attorneys are required to be competent when it comes to substantive law and the workings of the legal system but also must have an awareness and understanding of a client’s demographics and intersecting identities. To effectively represent the interests of minor clients as minor’s counsel, attorneys must be able to understand the child’s cultural environment from which they originate and live and how that context operates within our modern everchanging society. Awareness of the child’s background enables the attorney to see the case from the child’s perspective and be better informed as to what is in the best interest of the child. This presentation seeks to expose participants to the impact of cultural norms and practices on families of diverse cultural groups. This presentation will provide basic insight into the importance of cross-cultural competence and resources to assist attorneys handling those cases.

• Introducing Yourself as Minor’s Counsel to Your Client
• Tips and tricks to Interviewing Children Under 5, 10 and Teens
• How to Avoid Leading Questions
   

Topics to be Covered:
• How do you recognize it?
• What is and isn’t abuse?
• When to report?
• Who is required to report?
• Effects of abuse long-term.
• Polyvictimization.
• What if the reports of abuse are false?