For questions regarding our annual training, please contact Ann Horn.
SCBA, under the direction of the Family Law Section, hosts a live training series for Minors Counsel every year. Past trainings are available on-demand through SeminarWeb.
MC 2026 Sponsorship Package - Advocating for Sonoma County's Children
Thank you to our 2026 Advocate Sponsor
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2026 MINORS COUNSEL TRAINING - SPECIAL ISSUES IN CUSTODY AND REPRESENTING MINORS
Click here to register for the complete series at a discounted rate.
10-26-26 The Judicial Perspective on Minors Counsel: 12 - 1 pm
Speaker: Judge Patel Crocker (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-26-26 International Movement of Children: Foreign Visits and Move-Aways; Preventing Abductions; Recovering Abducted Children: 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Speaker: Jeremy Morley, wrote the book on international practice. (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-26-26 Substance Abuse Screening in Custody Cases: 4 - 5 pm
Speaker: Robin Estes (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-27-26 How to Determine the Credibility of a Witness: A Round Table Discussion: 12 - 1 pm
Speaker: Daniel B. Pickar, PhD., ABPP (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-27-26 Nuts & Bolts, Part 1: 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Speaker: Johanna Kleppe (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-27-26 Nuts & Bolts, Part 2: 4 - 5 pm
Speaker: Johanna Kleppe (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-28-26 Resist/Refuse Versus Alienation: 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Speaker: Dr. Rhonda Lindsey (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-28-26 Emergency Orders: 4 - 5 pm
Speaker: Julie Levy (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-29-26 Supervised Visitation - NOT RECORDING THIS PRESENTATION: 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Speaker: Dr. Beth Wannamaker, Psy.D. (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-29-26 Representing LGBTQIA+: 4 - 5 pm
Speaker: Beki Berrey (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-30-26 Our Family Wizard: Improving Outcomes for Families with Structured Co-Parenting Communication: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Speaker: Richard Parakandam (1.0 hour of Instruction)
10-30-26 Beyond the Interview: Cultivating Connection with Your Minor Client Across the Arc of Your Appointment: 4 - 5 pm
Speaker: Dené Carroll, MSW, LCSW (1.0 hour of Instruction)
Total: 12 Units of Credit
2025 MINORS COUNSEL TRAINING - SPECIAL ISSUES IN CUSTODY AND REPRESENTING MINORS - click here for the on-demand recording
Nuts & Bolts, will include interviewing children
Speaker: Johanna Kleppe (1.0 hour of Instruction)
Conflicts of Interest
Speaker: Julie Levy (1.0 hours of Instruction)
Special Needs Children and Parents
Speaker: Dene Carroll (1.5 hours of Instruction)
Court's Expectation of Minor's Counsel
Speakers: Judge Averill and Judge Patel Crocker (1.0 hour of Instruction)
Ethical Considerations
Speakers: Robin Estes and Judge Averill (1.0 hour of Instruction)
Secondary Trauma
Speaker: First Responders (1.0 hour of Instruction)
Handling Stress
Speakers: Julie Levy and Robin Estes (1.0 hour of Instruction)
Alcohol and Drug Testing/Supervised Visitation
Speaker: Soberlink (1.0 hour of Instruction)
Parent's with Mental Illness
Speaker: Laura Capinas (1.0 hour of Instruction)
DEI Considerations When Working with Children and Families
Speaker: Beki Berrey (1.0 hour of Instruction)
Emergency Filings as MC When to File and Oppose
Speaker: Kathleen Mullens Henderson (1.0 hour of Instruction)
2024 MINORS COUNSEL TRAINING - SPECIAL ISSUES IN CUSTODY AND REPRESENTING MINORS - click here for the on demand recording
Nuts & Bolts of Working as Minors' Counsel
Speakers: Kate Mullins Henderson & Julie Levy (1.5 hours of Instruction)
DVROs and Ex-Partes on Behalf of a Child
Speakers: Laura Dunst & Julie Levy (1 hour of Instruction)
Age-Appropriate Approaches to Interviewing Children
Speakers: Dene Carroll (1.5 hours of Instruction)
ACEs, Secondary Trauma
Speaker: Dr Rayna Friendly (2 hours of Instruction)
Ethical Considerations in Representing Children in Custody and Visitation Proceedings
Speakers: Hon. Paul Lozada & Robin Estes (1.5 hours of Instruction)
DEI Considerations When Working with Children and Families
Speaker: Beki Berrey (1 hour of Instruction)
Working with Children (and Parents) with Special Needs
Speaker: Dr. Daniel Pickar (1.5 hours of Instruction)
Child Abuse/Neglect
Speakers: Johanna Kleppe & Laura Capinas (1 hour of Instruction)
Working Effectively with Multidisciplinary Experts
Speakers: Jennifer Santos & Jarin Beck (1 hour of Instruction)
12 Units MCLE Credit, including (1 Unit was from the 2022 recorded offering, Interviewing Children, housed in SeminarWeb):
10.5 Units of General Law, 1 unit of Competency Issues, and 1 unit of Legal Ethics
12 Units Specialization Credit in Family Law
The 2024 training consists of 12 hours of live education.
Training Required by Rule 5.242:
Panels: Nuts/Bolts, Ethics, Interviewing Children, Parent Special Needs / Mental Illness, DEI, Multidisciplinary, Wellness, ACES, DV Orders on Behalf of the Children
2023 MINORS COUNSEL TRAINING - SPECIAL ISSUES IN CUSTODY AND REPRESENTING MINORS - click here for the on demand recording
Working with Multidisciplinary Experts
Speakers: Dené Carroll & Shawn Bunyard (1 hour of Instruction)
Representing Minors How-To (Authority, billing, reports)
Speaker: Julie Levy (1.5 hours of Instruction)
Special Needs Children
Speakers: Dr. Dan Pickar (1 hour of Instruction)
Relocation Factors in Parenting Plan Evaluations
Speaker: Dr. Rhonda Lindsey (1 hour of Instruction)
Bringing the Child's Voice to the Court
Speaker: Kate Mullins Henderson (1 hour of Instruction)
How the Court view's children's needs/the best interest of the child; When the children should be involved in Court proceedings; Preparing for live testimony; Privacy of the Child
Speakers: Judge Bertoli & Kathleen Smith (1.5 hours of Instruction)
Recognizing, evaluating and understanding evidence of child abuse and neglect, family violence and substance abuse, cultural and ethnic diversity, and gender-specific issues; The effects of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect on children
Speaker: Robin Estes (2 hours of Instruction)
How Minors Counsel can protect children w/parents with mental health issues; Warning signs
Speakers: Jennifer Santos & Laura Dunst (1 hour of Instruction)
Transference and Secondary Trauma
Speaker: Dana Schneider (1 hour of Instruction)
12 Units MCLE Credit, including (1 Unit was from the 2022 recorded offering, Interviewing Children, housed in SeminarWeb):
10.5 Units of General Law, 1 unit of Competency Issues, and 1 unit of Legal Ethics
12 Units Specialization Credit in Family Law
The 2023 training consists of 11 hours of live education. New Minors Counsel will need to complete an additional 1 hour of training from any of the programs listed below.
2022 MINORS COUNSEL TRAINING - SPECIAL ISSUES IN CUSTODY AND REPRESENTING MINORS - click here for the on demand recording
Stages of Development as They Relate to Children with Special Needs
Speaker: Kristine Bartlett, Psy. D.Children and the Court: Determining When Children Should be Involved; Preparing a Child for Testifying in Court; Alternative Means of Obtaining a Child's Input (FC 3042(e))
Speakers: Hon. James Bertoli, Julianne MajorRecognizing, Evaluating, and Understanding Child Abuse, Neglect, Domestic Violence, and the Long-Term Effects
Working Effectively With Multidisciplinary Experts
Speaker: Dené Carroll, LCSWRepresenting Two or More Siblings Could Create a Conflict for Minor's Counsel
Speakers: Julie Levy; Deborah ReeceRepresenting Minors: A How-To Guide for Minors Counsel
Speakers: Julie Levy; Kathleen Mullins HendersonBias/Diversity as it Relates to Working with Families and Representing Children
Speakers: Hon. Paul Lozada, Kinna CrockerInterviewing Children
Speakers: Laura Dunst, Johanna Kleppe, Dr. Rhonda Lindsey
The 2022 training consists of 9.75 hours of of education. New Minors Counsel will need to complete an additional 2.25 hours of training from any of the programs listed below.
ADDITIONAL MINORS COUNSEL PROGRAMS
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Child Trauma (1 hour)
Building Rapport with Children (1.5 hours)
Cultural Competency in Family Law Practice (45 minutes)
Custody and Visitation Issues (1 hour)
Interviewing Children (1.25 hours)
Secondary Traumatic Stress (1 hour)
Stages of Development as They Affect Move-Away Requests (1 hour)
Representing Minors in Custody and Visitation Proceedings (1.5 hours)
Training Required by CA Rules of Court, Rule 5.242 (c) and (d)
Before being appointed as counsel for a child in a family law proceeding, counsel must have completed at least 12 hours of applicable education. To remain eligible for appointment as counsel for a child, counsel must complete during each calendar year a minimum of eight hours of applicable education. Applicable training must include the following subjects:
(1) Statutes, rules of court, and case law relating to child custody and visitation litigation;
(2) Representation of a child in custody and visitation proceedings;
(3) Special issues in representing a child, including the following:
(A) Various stages of child development;
(B) Communicating with a child at various developmental stages and presenting the child's view;
(C) Recognizing, evaluating and understanding evidence of child abuse and neglect, family violence and substance abuse, cultural and ethnic diversity, and gender-specific issues
(D) The effects of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect on children; and
(E) How to work effectively with multidisciplinary experts.