Children and Family Law Division

The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in child welfare matters, including care and protection proceedings, children in need of services cases (CHINS), actions to terminate parental rights, state agency-sponsored guardianships, and any other child custody proceeding where the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a party or where the court is considering granting custody to DSS.  In Massachusetts, both children and indigent parents have a right to representation by counsel in child welfare cases.  See G. L. c. 119, § 29 and Dep’t of Public Welfare v. J.K.B., 379 Mass. 1 (1979).  Representation is provided by a panel of private court appointed attorneys and by staff attorneys in our Boston, Brockton, Lowell, Pittsfield, Salem, Springfield and Worcester offices.
Admission onto the CAFL trial panel is by application only and requires satisfactory completion of a 5-day training program combining substantive law and trial skills. See CAFL Trial Panel Certification Requirements. Upon completion of the trial certification training, attorneys are assigned to an experienced CAFL attorney for mentoring and support. Regional Coordinators also are available to provide advice and technical assistance to CAFL attorneys.
Admission to the CAFL appellate panel requires application and completion of our appellate training program.  See CAFL Appellate Panel Certification Requirements.