DO YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE FACING GUARDIANSHIP PETITIONS? APPLY TO JOIN THE MENTAL HEALTH LITIGATION DIVISION TRIAL PANEL AND REPRESENT RESPONDENTS IN PROBATE COURT.

The Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is now accepting applications to the spring 2020 Guardianship Certification Training.

A guardianship is a substantial deprivation of liberty – under guardianship the person can no longer legally make their own decisions about many issues, including where to live, what medical treatment to accept or refuse, and other decisions adults make every day. Because of this significant infringement on civil rights, respondents are entitled to court-appointed counsel. There is a great need for certified attorneys to represent these clients and it is rewarding work. Effective advocacy by attorneys can make a real difference in these cases. You will get client contact, litigation experience, and the satisfaction of knowing that the some of the most vulnerable people in the Commonwealth had a lawyer to fight for their rights.

This certification training will be held at Community Legal Aid in Worcester on March 16, 19, 20 (8:45 a.m. to 5:00 each day) and March 31, 2020. March 31^st will be mock trials (schedule to be determined depending on number of accepted applicants).

The deadline to apply is February 10, 2020. There is no cost to apply, but the cost of the training upon registration is $125.00. Applicants must be accepted into the program in order to register. We will notify everyone of acceptance status after February 10, 2020; please allow up to ten (10) days after the application deadline before inquiring about status.

Note that it is expected that you will promptly commence your mental health practice and to take at least one mental health case within six (6) months of successful completion of this certification program.

Please click here to apply

In order to submit your application you must press Submit at the bottom left hand side, below the signature. If you are not able to complete the application at one time you may press the Save button, on the bottom right hand side, and you will receive a link to use when you are ready to complete the application.

For more information about the Mental Health Litigation Division Guardianship Certification Training or for questions about the application, please contact Miriam Ruttenberg at (617) 910-5782 or mruttenberg@publiccounsel.net