CPCS MHLD Guardianship Certification Training

This training is for attorneys who want to represent CPCS clients in guardianship of adult cases filed in the Probate & Family Court.

Guardianship cases involve substantial deprivation of liberty and court-imposed restrictions on an individual’s ability to make independent decisions on many issues including where to live, what medical treatment to accept or refuse, and other decisions people make every day. Because these cases involve significant infringements upon an individual’s civil rights, respondents are entitled to court-appointed counsel.

There is a great need for attorneys to represent these clients in this rewarding work. You will get client contact, litigation experience, and the satisfaction of providing zealous, client-centered advocacy for some of the most marginalized and disempowered people in the Commonwealth. The hourly rate of payment is $75.00 through 7/1/2026 and then $85.00 thereafter.

Application Submission: Admission to the MHLD trial panel is by application only. All attorneys who accept CPCS assignments are required to maintain professional liability insurance. Completed applications must be submitted by Friday, January 9, 2026. MHLD will notify applicants on or about January 16, 2026 whether they have been admitted to the training program and with instructions for how to register. The link to our online application is at the end of this announcement.

Training Format and Requirements: Please review all information below carefully to make sure the format and dates work for you considering your work/family/other obligations.

**It is challenging to maintain a full workload and usual responsibilities while participating in this course, so please be mindful of the required time commitment.

This intensive mini course is hybrid certification training with a mix of live Zoom sessions and substantial online learning through our online learning management system (Talent LMS). There will also be a half-day mock trial held in person in either Boston or Worcester.

The class sessions will meet on: February 3, 6, 10, 13, 24 & 27.

• Class 1 (February 3) will meet in-person from 10AM – 3PM
• Class 2 (February 6) is a live Zoom session from 1PM – 4PM
• Class 3 (February 10) is a live Zoom session from 1PM – 4PM
• Class 4 (February 13) is a live Zoom session from 1PM – 4PM
• Class 5 (February 24) will meet in-person from 10AM – 3PM
• Class 6 (February 27) will meet in-person from 10AM – 3 PM

In addition, each course participant will be scheduled for an in-person mock trials on one of the following dates: March 10, 11, 13, 16 or 20 (morning and afternoon options, to be scheduled once registration is complete). Please hold these dates open pending notification of acceptance.

The online learning will include watching recorded lectures and other videos, reading articles and cases, and completing some quizzes and written assignments. There will be some pre-work before the training begins; the rest will be done in between the live sessions. You should expect a substantial number of hours of this self-directed work per week, in addition to the live sessions.

The class sessions include interactive discussions and small group skills exercises that you prepare for in advance. The mock trial will take significant preparation in advance (you will be examining witnesses on cross and direct, as well as making legal arguments). The mock trial is an important part of the certification training, where you practice what you learned in the first part of the course and get constructive feedback from experienced mental health attorneys.

The cost of the training is $250*, which includes access to the LMS and the MCLE Mental Health Proceedings in Massachusetts Manual for Defense Counsel. After receiving confirmation that you have been accepted into the training, you will receive registration and payment instructions.

MHLD Panel Requirements: 

• Certification is based on successful completion of the training course, including all live sessions, all required materials in the learning management system, and a mock trial. Attorneys who have successfully completed the course training requirements are provisionally certified and assigned to a mentor.
• During the period of the attorney’s provisional certification, the attorney must adhere to the CPCS Performance Standards for these cases and work cooperatively with their mentor as required by the MHLD Mentor Program requirements. The mentor will periodically report to the MHLD Trial Support Unit about the attorney’s progress towards full MHLD panel certification.

Link to the on-line application is below

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO APPLY  (No fee to apply)

CERTIFICATION PAYMENT: Attorneys who successfully complete the entire training and and within eighteen months accept at least ten (10) MHLD guardianship matters and also bill at least two hundred (200) hours will be eligible to receive a certification training payment.

If you have any questions or need reasonable accommodations to complete the application, please email Beau Kealy, [email protected], or call (617) 910-5714.

* We do not want the cost of this training to be a barrier for interested attorneys who are dedicated to representing our clients against petitions for guardianship and authority for treatment. If the cost of this training is a financial hardship, please contact Beau Kealy when you submit your application to discuss a confidential fee waiver.