CAFL COVID-19 News and Resources
Updates From the Courts
Court System Response to COVID-19, provides links to Daily Court Updates and Orders of the Supreme Judicial Court, Appeals Court, District Court, Housing Court, Juvenile Court and Land Court
SJC Order Regarding Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic, effective April 6, 2020
Supreme Judicial Court Order Authorizing Use of Electronic Signatures by Attorneys and Self Represented Parties, effective April 7, 2020
Juvenile Court Standing Order 4-20
Juvenile Court Standing Order 5-20, Protocol Governing Requests for Release From Detention, and Requests to Revise or Revoke or Stay Sentence, based on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Risks
Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-20
Appeals Court Guidelines Regarding Extension of Deadlines and Other COVID-19 Procedures
Appeals Court Notice Cancelling April Oral Arguments
Message to the Bar from Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants, dated 3/19/2020
Updates From CPCS
Checklists for Checking in With Your Child, Young Adult, and Parent Clients During the COVID-19 Crisis
Modifications to Client Contact Requirements for CAFL Trial Attorneys, updated 3/27/2020
Guidance on Client Contact for CAFL Appellate Attorneys
Annual Cap on Billable Hours
Guidance for Private CAFL Attorneys on Single Justice Petitions/Interlocutory Appeals
Message from CPCS Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti on the 57th Anniversary of the Supreme Court Decision Gideon v. Wainwright, dated 3/19/2020
Message from the CAFL Trial Panel Support Unit, dated 3/17/2020
Updates from DCF
DCF Guidelines for Parent-Child Visitation During COVID-19 Outbreak
Information for Providing Foster Care as Massachusetts Manages COVID-19
DCF Interim Guidance for Support and Stabilization Providers
Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) Guidance to Residential, Congregate Care, and Shelter Providers – Coronavirus Update
Training Information
All in person trainings have been cancelled though April 30, 2020.
If you have any questions about a training scheduled after that date, please e-mail cafltraining@publiccounsel.net. We are currently evaluating our programs scheduled for May and June and will provide updated information as it becomes available.
CPCS CLE Requirement-Emergency Policy Change-FY 2020 Only
Due to exceptional circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 virus, CPCS is waiving the Continuing Legal Education hours requirement for all units for Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020.) Although we have waived the CLE requirements, we encourage you to attend webinars that are relevant to your practice area to support your professional development. The CPCS training unit will post offerings for webinars soon. Please see the CPCS Training Department Website:https://www.publiccounsel.net/train/
You may still be paid for eight (8) hours of training if you meet the attendance and payment requirements. Additionally, Panel Directors may offer credit for webinars that are not sponsored by CPCS. For CAFL credits please e-mail cafltraining@publiccounsel.net to determine whether you may get credit and bill for attendance at a webinar not sponsored by CPCS.
We hope that we will be returning to offering in-person training in the later part of the Spring (all in person CPCS training has been cancelled through April 30, 2020), and look forward to seeing you then.
Approved Webinars
To receive credit for an approved webinar download and send an attendance certificate, if one is available, or an e-mail with your BBO#, the title and date of the webinar and # of viewing hours to Rita Caso, rcaso@publiccounsel.net. If there is a webinar you would like to have approved for credit please send the link to cafltraining@publiccounsel.net. Thank you!
Education in the Time of a Pandemic
Resources from EdLaw and the Youth Advocacy Foundation
EdLaw: Know Your Rights: Education and Special Education in Light of COVID-19 School Closures