Mental Health Law Case Update - With some pivotal cases added for good measure...
2023-06-15 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us as we update our knowledge of Commitment and Guardianship Case
Law. This dynamic session will feature forty-six (46) pivotal cases, meticulously
selected from the rich tapestry of recent legal developments and landmark judgments.
Over the course of our seminar, we will tackle cases from the Supreme, Federal
and Appellate Courts as well as matters from the Massachusetts Supreme
Judicial Court emerging over the past three years. More importantly, we will revisit those impactful cases that may have faded from your memory but still possess significant relevance. The Learning Objective is to refresh your legal knowledge, foster a nuanced understanding of basic principles, and rekindle your insights into the complex terrain of Mental Health Law.
Our session will be highly interactive, encouraging dialogues and sharing of perspectives.
Whether you are focused on the Guardianship Panel or the Commitment
side, this seminar promises to provide immense value by offering a comprehensive refresher on influential cases that may have slipped off the radar.
THIS PROGRAM QUALIFIES FOR 3 CLE ON THE MHLD TRIAL PANEL
REGISTER HERE:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0uf–orTkqEtX-2F0qXYsqamqhT7NqNj6r#/registration

Monthly CAFL Race Equity Drop-In
2023-06-20 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Have you ever witnessed or experienced implicit bias or racism in your CAFL casework and didn’t know how to respond in the moment? Do you feel like you could use some ideas on how to respond if this happens to you? Join us for the next CAFL Racial Equity Drop-In on May 30, 2023. Come brainstorm with colleagues in a no-judgment and no-pressure environment on how to respond to these incidents when they occur and beyond! We started this conversation last month and it was so productive we agreed to continue the conversation with the goal of combining our ideas into a “guide” for practitioners. You do not need to have been at an earlier drop-in to come to this one. We look forward to seeing those who can come and to continuing the great, substantive, creative conversations we are having at these drop-ins. Approved for 1 CAFL CLE.

Trying Cases Against Pro Se Litigants
2023-06-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Embark on an enlightening journey with us as we delve into an engaging exploration of handling Pro-Se litigants in Probate Court proceedings. This is your chance to sharpen your skills and broaden your understanding of the intricate legal landscape. Our seminar will provide valuable insights into effective strategies, ethical considerations, and the impact of recent court decisions in this field. Our primary objective is to equip you with the necessary tools to effectively surmount challenges typically encountered by the Respondent’s Counsel, especially in the context of accelerating case progression.
THIS PROGRAM QUALIFIES FOR 2 CLE ON THE MHLD TRIAL PANEL
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsd-2trz0iHNGqoU9TJUkIjan7OxaSETP4

The Dee Kennedy Project: Addressing the Realities of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Justice Involvement in Suffolk County
2023-06-21 16:00 - 18:00
This program is hosted by Social Law Library. For assistance, questions on group discounts, accommodations requests, special billing, program content, out-of-state CLE credits, and general contact CLE Coordinator, Michael Saporito by email at msaporito@socialaw.com) . This event is being listed for informational purposes only. CPCS staff cannot assist with, or solve, registration issues.
Faculty: Sheila Casey, Esq., Specialty Courts Administrator, Executive Office of the Trial Court, Hon. Lisa Ann Grant, Associate Justice, Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court, Sandra Andrade, Peer Advocate/Recovery Coach, The Dee Kennedy Project & North Suffolk Community Services, Katherine Bryce, Project Coordinator, The Dee Kennedy Project
The Dee Kennedy Project (DKP) helps justice-involved adults find supportive pathways to exit commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). The DKP offers a variety of services – from offering a supportive ear, to speaking with a peer advocate and recovery coach, to helping individuals to achieve short- and long-term goals at their own pace. The DKP offers advocacy, peer support, connection to social and clinical services, and interdisciplinary collaboration to best serve and assist survivors of CSE as they navigate the criminal justice system.
The framework for the DKP is to provide trauma-informed and client-centered interventions provided by a Peer Advocate/Recovery Coach working with North Suffolk and a supporting team.
The DKP team also aims to educate court staff, attorneys, and service providers on best practices in understanding Commercial Sexual Exploitation, and working with and representing this population in Boston Courts and available resources.
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET
Online Only, Webinar Fee: $65
CAFL CLEs: 2
For more information and to register: https://www.socialaw.com/education/event-detail/2023/06/21/default-calendar/the-dee-kennedy-project—addressing-the-realities-of-commercial-sexual-exploitation-and-justice-involvement-in-suffolk-county

Guardianship Roundtable 1st Meeting: Temporary Guardianships
2023-06-22 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-06-22 14:00 - 15:00
Do you want an opportunity to talk about: guardianship issues? “case crunch” your case? problems in your probate court?
There will be a short presentation on TEMPORARY GUARDIANSHIPS. You will learn what to do when you get a Motion for Temporary Guardian without time to prepare, what to do when the Motion for Temporary Guardian was allowed before you were appointed, what the petitioner must prove to succeed on a Motion for Temporary Guardian.
This program qualifies for 1 CLE on the Mental Health Trial Panel
Please use link below to register.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Winning Before You Start: In Guardianship and Commitment Cases
2023-06-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
Part 1: Participants will work through scenarios that arise including the following topics:

When to file a motion to dismiss.
Procedural inadequacies.
Defects and/or omissions in the petition.
Inadequate notice to parties.

Part 2: Regional Coordinator Meeting (some information shared will be specific to regions)

Discussion of Guardianship of C.A.
Any new updates
Status of person hearings

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwocOyopzwvG9WaXBcddjGYRpQvjbrExduy
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT EITHER:
ELAINE POURINSKI, RC for Hampshire/Franklin – epourinski@aol.com
DEBORAH STEVENS, RC for Hampden/Berkshire – dhsesq84@comcast.net

Facilitated Discussion on How to Deal with Challenging Behaviors on the Part of Clients and Petitioner’s Counsel
2023-06-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
(Limited to 40 participants)
Barnstable, Plymouth and Bristol Counties, Regional Coordinator Virtual Training Sessions
THIS PROGRAM QUALIFIES FOR 2 CLE ON THE MHLD TRIAL PANEL and MHLD APPEALS PANEL
Regional Coordinator’s Michael O’Brien (Bristol County) and Joan Legraw (Barnstable and Plymouth Counties) will facilitate a group discussion of several challenging behaviors on the part of clients and/or opposing counsel often encountered in commitment and guardianship cases. In small breakout groups, participants will discuss several hypothetical fact patterns, including client decisional ambivalence and/or resistance to advice, the role of standby counsel, and the failure of Petitioner to file appropriate pleadings in DNR and Rogers cases. All participants will then rejoin the main session to present the opinions and solutions of their group.
After the session participants will:
Be better able to respond productively to several challenging client behaviors often encountered in commitment and guardianship cases.
Understand how to respond to requests from Petitioner’s counsel’s and pro-se petitioner’s request for assistance in filing required pleadings.
Be familiar as to when they may need to withdraw from a case, and how to do so while respecting the client’s right to confidentiality and the court’s potential expectation that counsel remain as “stand-by counsel.”
Be advantaged by practical advice from session participants on how to deal with specific challenging behaviors on the part of clients and Petitioner’s counsel (and/or pro-se petitioners).
Please note that this session is limited to (40) participants.

Registration Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUofuyqqjgpGNbDjWYgF-6ARzG2k0RPujf8
for questions:
Joan LeGraw: attorneyjlegraw@gmail.com
Mike O’Brien: obrienmichael80@yahoo.com

Canceled: Working with clients who are Deaf and hard of hearing and their families: a presentation by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)
2023-06-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Training canceled for 6/28/2023. Reschdule date: TBD.
Organized by Deborah Cassell, CAFL Resource Attorney (Barnstable County) – deborahcassell_atty@hotmail.com
Presented by Jonathan O’Dell, MCDHH
CLE: 2 CAFL; 2 MHLD Trial Panel and MHLD Appeals Panel
In Massachusetts and elsewhere in the United States, access to the courts and legal services by Deaf and hard of hearing individuals remains problematic. This happens for a variety of reasons – insufficient numbers of legal American Sign Language interpreters, Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDI) and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) providers.
Additionally, knowledge related to the provision of appropriate communication access services remains elusive, as does the proper implementation of such services across a wide spectrum of legal and social services.
This presentation by MCDHH will help you to understand what appropriate communication access is; what cultural, communicative, procedural and technical considerations to take into account when working with Deaf and hard of hearing individuals and families, and how MCDHH staff can work with you to ensure positive outcomes for our constituency.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82756126205?pwd=[REDACTED]

Working with clients who are Deaf and hard of hearing and their families: a presentation by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)
2023-06-28 14:00 - 16:00
Organized by Deborah Cassell, CAFL Resource Attorney (Barnstable County) – deborahcassell_atty@hotmail.comPresented by Jonathan O’Dell, MCDHH
CLE: 2 CAFL; 2 MHLD Trial and MHLD Appeals Panel
In Massachusetts and elsewhere in the United States, access to the courts and legal services by Deaf and hard of hearing individuals remains problematic. This happens for a variety of reasons – insufficient numbers of legal American Sign Language interpreters, Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDI) and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) providers.
Additionally, knowledge related to the provision of appropriate communication access services remains elusive, as does the proper implementation of such services across a wide spectrum of legal and social services.
This presentation by MCDHH will help you to understand what appropriate communication access is; what cultural, communicative, procedural and technical considerations to take into account when working with Deaf and hard of hearing individuals and families, and how MCDHH staff can work with you to ensure positive outcomes for our constituency.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82756126205?pwd=[REDACTED]

MCLE: Dissecting Attorney Client Privilege & the Work Product Doctrine
2023-06-28 14:00 - 16:00
This program is hosted by MCLE. Any questions or issues regarding this program should be directed there. (customerservice@mcle.org). This event is being listed for informational purposes only. CPCS staff cannot assist with, or solve, registration issues.
2 CLE: CAFL and CAFL Appellate
Rebroadcasts July 13, 2023, 12:00 noon-2:00pm, July 21, 10:00am-12:00 noon
For more information and registration information click link below:
https://www.mcle.org/product/catalog/code/2230203WBC

test
2023-06-29 08:00 - 17:00

MHLD RED (Race, Equity and Diversity) Talk
2023-06-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Bring your lunch and come join your colleagues on MHLD staff and panel to talk informally and brainstorm about raising race in our cases. Do you believe that your client’s mental health treatment, admission to a facility or petition for commitment/guardianship is being impacted by racial bias? Every month we will focus on a different topic arising in our litigation. Come talk about how to tell your client’s story, develop strategy, draft cross and direct examinations, move to admit relevant studies and articles and make effective arguments to the court. This is also a chance to case crunch your cases with your colleagues over lunch!

THIS PROGRAM QUALIFIES FOR 1 CLE FOR MHLD TRIAL AND MHLD APPEALS PANEL

REGISTER HERE:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtf-uppj8jGdxypq_aJlkx5_qsOFHHRcKC#/registration

MCLE: Trial Advocacy Workshop 2023
2023-07-10 08:30 - 2023-07-14 17:30
This program is hosted by MCLE. Any questions or issues regarding this program should be directed there. (customerservice@mcle.org). This event is being listed for informational purposes only. CPCS staff cannot assist with, or solve, registration issues.
For more information, including how to register, please click link below: https://www.mcle.org/product/catalog/code/2230193P01
Monday, July 10 – Friday, July 14, 2023, 8:30 am-5:30 pm, MCLE Conference Center, Ten Winter Place, Boston
8 CLE: CAFL

Test Event
2023-07-17 08:00 - 17:00

CPCS Forensic Practice Series - Digital Forensics
2023-07-25 14:00 - 16:00
Join us for a training on digital forensics for defense attorneys. The training will cover an overview of digital evidence, technology, and sources of information, a focused look at cell phones and cell phone extractions, geofence warrants and motion litigation, expert issues (defense and Commonwealth), and an introduction to issues regarding AI and Deepfake technology.
Register by clicking here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5Vwk-3bKQwOcPllqpzc5-w
Faculty:
Kyle Wibby, Supervising Attorney, CPCS Public Defender Division, Barnstable County
Brooke Gottleib, Consulting Associate – Digital Forensics, Charles River Associates
Ira Gant, Director, CPCS Forensic Services
CLE Credit: The following CPCS Panels are offering 2 hours of CLE for this training: Adult Criminal Trial, Criminal Appeals, YAD Trial, YAD Appeals, CAFL Trial and CAFL Appeals
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out

Monthly CAFL Race Equity Drop-In – Advocating for Our Clients Who Are Limited English Proficient and Their Children
2023-07-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Next Race Equity Drop in July 26, 1:00-2:00 – Advocating for Our Clients Who Are Limited English Proficient and Their Children
Have your clients had their court cases continued over and over again because no interpreter was available? Has DCF told your parent client to attend a service that is only offered in a language the client does not speak? Do you represent a child who is losing the ability to communicate with their parents because they are placed in an English only speaking home? Are parent-child visits cancelled because there’s no interpreter for the DCF worker observing the visit? Are your clients routinely handed documents written in a language they cannot read? After several colleagues raised issues around language access at our last few drop ins, we decided to devote our next session to the challenges faced by our clients who are limited English proficient. Please join us on July 26, 1:00-2:00 to brainstorm with colleagues on how to protect the civil and due process rights of our clients who are limited English proficient. You can register to attend here.
Approved for 1 CAFL CLE.

Mad in America: Supporting a Child, Teen or Young Adult in Crisis
2023-08-10 12:00 - 13:30
This program is hosted by Mad in America. Any questions or issues regarding this program should be directed there. (cruggiero@madinamerica.com). This event is being listed for informational purposes only. CPCS staff cannot assist with, or solve, registration issues.
This program qualifies for 1.5 CLE on the MHLD Trial Panel and MHLD Appeals Panel

Please join Mad in America as we hear stories of intense trial and transformation from our guest speakers, discuss approaches to supporting children, teens, and young adults in crisis, and end with an open audience Q&A. These incredible panelists will share information, resources, and inspiration for those on the journey as well as practitioners and anyone else interested in the topic.

REGISTER HERE

Free training on Psychopharmacology
2023-08-15 08:00 - 16:00
More information here and to register: Psychopharmacology: Essential Information for Mental Health Professionals (pesi.com)
CLE: 6 CAFL

Screening & Discussion of the Movie EARTH MAMA
2023-08-18 19:30 - 21:30 | The Luna Theater, 250 Jackson Street, Lowell, MA, 01852, United States
Join us for a screening and discussion of one of the most anticipated movies to come out of the Sundance Film Festival, Earth Mama. The movie tells the story of Gia, a young, pregnant single mother in recovery with two kids in foster care. It chronicles her struggle as she works, attends court-ordered programs, visits her kids and simply navigates a life whose precarity imbues every day with a steady undercurrent of tension. If the system seems rigged for Gia to fail, it’s because it is.
Discussion Questions For Earth Mama here.
*Feel free to bring any other interested viewers, however, please note that this movie is rated R and the theater is a small venue, so plan accordingly.*
CLE: 2 CAFL
Buy a ticket here: https://lunalowell.com/movies/earth-mama/

Multiplying the Challenge: Parenting as a Disabled Immigrant
2023-08-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Hosted by National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities
Panelists: Jennifer Senda & Angelica Garcia
Facilitator: Luanjiao Aggie Hu
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
12:00 PM ET
Register for upcoming webinar.
CLE: 1 CAFL

MHLD Guardianship Roundtable
2023-08-23 12:00 - 13:00
Join your colleagues and Laura Sanford for a Guardianship Roundtable on August 23rd 12:00pm to 1:00pm. You get 1 CLE credit.

Bring your issues and cases to “crunch.”

We will spend about 15 – 20 minutes discussing limitations to and terminating guardianships.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdemhqD4rG9MLR1gQyMe0LIpSDICs4KM-

Free Webinar: Closing the Justice Gap for Older Adults Part 4
2023-08-23 14:00 - 15:15
Free Webinar: Closing the Justice Gap for Older
Adults Part 4: You Can Make a Difference—
Defending Against or Terminating Guardianship
When: August 23, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. P.T./2:00-3:15 p.m. E.T.
The fourth webinar in the Closing the Justice Gap for Older Adults training series will prepare legal aid attorneys to represent individuals who may be subject to guardianship or who are under guardianship. When representing a person with a guardian or someone who is allegedly in need of a guardian, an attorney may need to take extra steps to ensure their client has the right to counsel of their choice and to be a strong advocate on behalf of the client. This includes ensuring the client is present in the proceedings and treated with dignity and that the client’s due process rights are upheld. By using procedural and evidentiary tools— including alternatives to guardianship—advocates can increase clients’ independence and autonomy and restore their civil rights. This training will build on the concepts discussed in the second training in this series, Representing Clients with a Range of Decisional Capabilities.
Presenters will share:
· Considerations for representing clients with a range of decisional capabilities;
· Strategies for advocating for clients’ rights;
· Standards and burdens for opposing, modifying, or terminating guardianship; and
· Building systems and partnerships to engage with clients in need of these services.
Presenters:
· Introduction: Francis Nugent, Legal Services Corporation and Hilary Dalin, Administration for Community Living
· Jim Berchtold, Justice in Aging
· Gabrielle Marshall, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid
Capacity for this session is limited to 3,000 participants, and all participants will have the option of accessing audio through the computer or by phone. Closed captioning will be available. Please be sure to log onto the webinar a few minutes early in order to secure your place for the live presentation on Zoom. If you would like to request ASL interpretation or have other accessibility related questions, please email ncler@acl.hhs.gov at least a week in advance.
This webinar will be recorded and available on our website shortly after the presentation. The recording and training materials will also be emailed to all registrants within a few days after the training. We are unable to offer CEU’s or other certifications. Thank you for understanding.
The webinar will take place on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET. and will run for 75 minutes.

Register Here

We are committed to keeping any personally identifiable information you have provided to us secure. Please only provide professional, not personal, email information. We will not sell, transfer, or provide this information to any other entity. You can read HHS’s full privacy policy here.

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This program is approved for 1.5 CLE’s for MHLD Trial and Appeals panels.
This program is hosted by NCLER. Any questions or issues regarding this program should be directed there; NCLER@acl.hhs.gov . This event is being listed for informational purposes only. CPCS staff cannot assist with, or solve, registration issues.

Lunch & Learn Series on SSI/SSDI
2023-08-30 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-09-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom

CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training Fall 2023 Orientation
2023-08-30 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
CPCS is now accepting applications for its Fall 2023 CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training to represent children and parents in care and protection/termination of parental rights and child requiring assistance (CRA) cases. The training includes full day in-person sessions, half-day live zoom sessions, and substantial self-directed learning. The training concludes with a full day in-person mock temporary custody hearing. Attorneys accepted into this training will receive a “Certification Payment” of $5032 upon the following: 1) successful completion of the CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training; and 2) within twelve months of completing the training the attorney (a) receives appointments on 12 care and protection cases, and (b) submits 600 hours of billing on care and protection cases.
CPCS is committed to ensuring that the panel of attorneys accepting CAFL assignments is sensitive to the diversity of the client population it serves. We will give preference on a rolling basis to attorneys who submit completed applications by Wednesday, July 26, 2023, although we will continue to accept applications after that time. We encourage interested attorneys to apply early and not wait until the deadline. The application can be found here.

New Lawyer/Zealous Advocacy Training
2023-08-30 15:30 - 17:00
CPCS Zealous Advocacy in the District Courts Day 1
Thiis is the certification course for attorneys wishing to accept criminal case assignments in the District Courts. You must submit an application and be accepted by a county Bar Advocate Program. CPCS Bar Advocate Training Application
Dates; August 30, September 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28, October 3 & 5, 2023
please email Kristen Munichiello with questions: kmunichiello@localhost/cpcs

Monthly CAFL Race Equity Drop-In
2023-09-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Next Race Equity Drop on September 7, 1:00-2:00
You can register to attend here.
Approved for 1 CAFL CLE.

CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training Fall 2023
2023-09-11 09:30 - 16:30
CPCS is now accepting applications for its Fall 2023 CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training to represent children and parents in care and protection/termination of parental rights and child requiring assistance (CRA) cases. The training includes full day in-person sessions, half-day live zoom sessions, and substantial self-directed learning. The training concludes with a full day in-person mock temporary custody hearing. Attorneys accepted into this training will receive a “Certification Payment” of $5032 upon the following: 1) successful completion of the CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training; and 2) within twelve months of completing the training the attorney (a) receives appointments on 12 care and protection cases, and (b) submits 600 hours of billing on care and protection cases.
CPCS is committed to ensuring that the panel of attorneys accepting CAFL assignments is sensitive to the diversity of the client population it serves. We will give preference on a rolling basis to attorneys who submit completed applications by Wednesday, July 26, 2023, although we will continue to accept applications after that time. We encourage interested attorneys to apply early and not wait until the deadline. The application can be found here.
The training schedule is as follows. Note that due to holidays and space availability, the training is not consistently held on the same days each week.
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2-4 Orientation (zoom)
Monday, Sept. 11, 9:30-4:30 (in person)
Thursday, Sept. 14, 1:00-4:30 (zoom)
Monday, Sept. 18, 9:30-4:30 (in person)
Thursday, Sept. 21, 1:00-4:30 (zoom)
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 9:30-4:30 (in person)
Friday, Sept. 29, 1:00-4:30 (zoom)
Wednesday, Oct. 4, 9:30-4:30 (in person)
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 9:30-4:30 (in person)
Mock Hearings, Oct. 17-19 (in person)

CPCS MHLD Civil Commitment Certification Training
2023-09-11 13:00 - 16:00
This Training is by application only see announcement here Announcement Fall 2023 Commitment Certification Training final
