CPCS Website

Monthly CAFL Race Equity Drop-In
2024-06-26 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Zoom
As practitioners in the family regulation system, there are many times we feel frustrated and beaten when facing the full force of the racist state. And at times, even complicit in the system of unjust removals as court officers. We are obviously part of this legal system despite our fight to change the outcomes for our clients one case at a time. This June we hope to take a moment of introspection into our work, cognizant of the harms of family separation, of the larger family policing system, and reconcile our roles and responsibilities to the community we represent.
We want to know how you deal with the feeling of complicity in a largely racist and unjust family regulation system. How do you counter this narrative to continue your work? Or do you do something else entirely? What do you suggest we do as individuals and collectively to better fight for positive changes in and outside of court?
Please come with your thoughts and suggestions or just to listen to a candid discussion that will hopefully leave us with efforts to maintain our zeal in challenging injustice. We will meet via zoom on Wednesday, June 26, 1-2pm.
Approved for 1 CAFL CLE.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvcuuhqz8rE9TYEqGfCOMpyJrJAwbxH9D5

Boston Bar Association: Cutting Edge Issues in Criminal Law
2024-06-26 16:00 - 18:30 | boston bar association, 16 Beacon Street, Boston, 02108, United States
This program is hosted by Boston Bar Association Any questions or issues regarding this program should be directed there: (617) 742-0615. This event is being listed for informational purposes only. CPCS staff cannot assist with, or solve, registration issues.
This in-person program qualifies for 2.5 CLE credit for attorneys on each of the following panels: Criminal Defense (Adult),Post-Conviction (Adult), YAD, YAD Appeals, MH Appeals and Parole
For more information about this program (including cost) and to register, please visit Boston Bar Association website here:
https://bostonbar.my.site.com/LightningMemberPortal/s/lt-event?id=a1YRc0000017GttMAE

A View from the Bench Navigating Barriers to Justice: Court Access for People with Disabilities and Non-English Speakers
2024-06-27 03:00 - 16:30 | Franklin County Justice Center, 43 Hope Street, Greenfield, 01301, United States

MHLD RED (Race, Equity and Diversity) Talk
2024-06-28 12:00 - 13:00
THIS PROGRAM QUALIFIES FOR 1 CLE ON THE MHLD TRIAL PANEL and MHLD APPEALS PANEL
Drop-in Lunch & Learn to build on other recent race trainings and support you in your MHLD practice!
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? During each session 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!
Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkf-CurDIoGNzk6WfIoKjEduWczKqlX8W1

What We’ve Learned as Trainers from Wrestling with Building Inclusive Community and Curriculum
2024-07-02 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
Yes, July is no longer Pride month but can we still talk? – JK Rowling and Chimanmandu Ngozi Adichie Infected our Trainings with Harm – What We’ve Learned as Trainers from Wrestling with Building Inclusive Community and Curriculum –
With Melanie Roberts, Director of YAD Training and Connor Barusch, Director of Criminal Defense Training
1 CLE credit for attorneys on each of the following panels: Adult Criminal Defense Trials, Adult Post-Conviction, YAD, YAD Appeals, SORB, SDP, Parole, MH, MH Appeals, CAFL
see our flyer for more events in this series:
FLYER_Pride-in-Zealous-Client-Centered-Advocacy-with-Criminal-Defense-and-YAD-Trainers

Cross Practice - Impeachment Skills In Action Training (In-Person)
2024-07-23 10:00 - 16:00 | Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue Kittredge Building Room 312, Holyoke, MA, 01040
Fictional client Makayla Jones has open cases with YAD/Criminal Defense, CAFL, and MH. Participants work together to review impeachment fundamentals and develop a theory of the case for their individual practice areas. Participants will learn how to decide whether to impeach, which mode of impeachment to use, and how to impeach effectively. Participants will practice impeachment by inconsistent statement and impeachment by omission. Get ready to have some fun as we work on one of the most important and difficult skills in our trial attorney toolbox!
The Cross-Practice Training Committee is pleased to offer two options of this program for your convenience, an in-person option as well as a virtual option. See registration information below. Space is limited and we will maintain a waiting list once tickets sell out.

In-Person: One day (all day)
July 23, 2024, 10 AM to 4 PM
at Holyoke Community College,
303 Homestead Street, Kitteredge Building, Room 312,
Holyoke MA 01040
REGISTER HERE

Virtual (Zoom): Two ½ days
October 29 and October 31, 2024; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
REGISTER HERE
Zoom link sent to you 2-3 days before day one of program. You must commit to attending both days of the program for the virtual option.
This program qualifies for 5.5 CLE on the following CPCS Panels:
Criminal Defense, Post Conviction, YAD, YAD Appeals, MHLD, CAFL Trial, CAFL Appeals
*4.5 for SORB panel

Understanding Stigma and Discrimination as Drivers of Mental Health Disparities for Diverse, Rural, LGBTQ+ Communities
2024-08-22 13:30 - 15:00
Date/time: August 22, 2024, 1:30–3:00 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual
This webinar will present the goals and procedures of the Rural Engagement and Approaches For LGBTQ+ Mental Health (REALM) study, which is developing a longitudinal cohort of diverse LGBTQ+ adults residing in rural and small metropolitan communities across the United States. Challenges with online recruitment and enrollment and creative solutions will be shared, in addition to lessons learned in how to ensure participant safety. The webinar will end with a description of the cohort to date and share preliminary baseline findings related to study aims.
This is the first webinar of the 2024 Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity Webinar Series. The series is designed for investigators conducting or interested in conducting research on mental health disparities, women’s mental health, minority mental health, and rural mental health.

Register Now

This program is hosted by National Institute of Mental Health. Any questions or issues regarding this program should be directed there. (nimh@mn-e.com). This event is being listed for informational purposes only. CPCS staff cannot assist with, or solve, registration issues.

NLT/Zealous Advocacy in the District Courts
2024-08-30 15:30 - 16:30
Certification Training for Bar Advocates (Day One – Welcome and Introduction)
by Application: CPCS Bar Advocate Training Application updated 9.2023
The Zealous Advocacy Training Program involves two in-person training days per week (9:30 am to 4:30 pm).
In addition to the in-person sessions, each week you will complete work using our online learning platform, to prepare for the upcoming weeks’ live session skills exercises. The self-directed learning on Talent LMS will include watching recorded lectures and other videos, reading articles and cases, and completing written assignments. Some of this work must be completed before the training begins; the rest must be done between the live sessions. You should expect 8-10 hours of this self-directed work per week, in addition to the live sessions. The live sessions include discussions and small group skills exercises that you prepare for in advance. The prep time for the skills based exercises is 2-3 hours per week.

CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training Fall 2024
2024-09-04 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-09 09:30 - 17:00, 2024-09-12 13:00 - 16:30, 2024-09-16 09:30 - 17:00, 2024-09-19 13:00 - 16:30, 2024-09-23 09:30 - 17:00
JOIN THE FIGHT!
GROW YOUR LEGAL PRACTICE AND HELP CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN NEED! APPLY FOR OUR CAFL TRAINING AND BECOME CERTIFIED TO HELP THESE FAMILIES!
We need zealous, effective attorneys who want to protect the rights of parents and children in Care and Protection and Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) cases.
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 eighteen months of completing the training the attorney (a) receives appointments on 12 care and protection cases, and (b) submits 500 hours of billing on care and protection cases.
READ BELOW AND APPLY BY AUGUST 4

We are looking to increase the number of attorneys handling state intervention cases (typically referred to as “care and protection” or “termination of parental rights” cases) in the Massachusetts Juvenile Court.
Fall 2024 Application Form: Fall 2024 Children and Family Law (CAFL) Trial Panel Certification Training (cognitoforms.com)

Interested attorneys can find more information and apply by using the QR code above or by clicking CAFL TRAINING. Preference will be given to applications received by August 4, 2024. Joining this panel ensures due process and effective representation for parents and children. Thank you for your interest in this essential litigation practice.
IMPORTANT DETAILS FOR INTERESTED ATTORNEYS:

CERTIFICATION TRAINING: The training will include a brief orientation on Zoom on September 4, followed by hybrid training sessions from September 9 through October 18, 2024. Sessions consist of in-person and live Zoom sessions, as well as self-directed learning. Successful completion enables certification for care and protection and child requiring assistance (CRA) cases.
ASSIGNMENT: Attorneys will be assigned to cases, which often start with an ex parte petition filed by the Department of Children and Families. Immediate responsibilities include preparing for potential emergency custody hearings within 72 hours of an ex parte order. These cases can last 15 months or longer.
COMPENSATION: Private attorneys will be paid $85/hour for Care and Protection/Termination of Parental Rights cases and $65/hour for CRA matters.
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS: Attorneys must adhere to CAFL’s performance standards and meet other requirements outlined in CPCS’s Assigned Counsel Manual.
SUPPORT: New panel members will be assigned a mentor who provides support, introduces them to court personnel, helps them learn local practices, attends initial court hearings, and offers assistance.

NLT/Zealous Advocacy in the District Courts
2024-09-10 09:30 - 16:30, 2024-09-12 09:30 - 16:30, 2024-09-17 09:30 - 16:30, 2024-09-19 09:30 - 16:30, 2024-09-24 09:30 - 16:30
Certification Training for Bar Advocates
By Application Only
CPCS Bar Advocate Training Application updated 9.2023
The Zealous Advocacy Training Program involves two in-person training days per week (9:30 am to 4:30 pm) for a total of 8 in-person training days over 4-5 weeks.
In addition to the in-person sessions, each week you will complete work using our online learning platform, to prepare for the upcoming weeks’ live session skills exercises. The self-directed learning on Talent LMS will include watching recorded lectures and other videos, reading articles and cases, and completing written assignments. Some of this work must be completed before the training begins; the rest must be done between the live sessions. You should expect 8-10 hours of this self-directed work per week, in addition to the live sessions. The live sessions include discussions and small group skills exercises that you prepare for in advance. The prep time for the skills based exercises is 2-3 hours per week.

MHLD Civil Commitment Certification: On Zoom
2024-09-10 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-13 09:30 - 12:30, 2024-09-17 09:30 - 12:30, 2024-09-20 09:30 - 12:30

MBA: Expert Witnesses in Narcotics Cases
2024-09-10 13:00 - 15:00
This program is hosted by Mass Bar Association. Any questions or issues regarding this program should be directed there: MBA Member Services at (617) 338-0530 or email (education@massbar.org). This event is being listed for informational purposes only. CPCS staff cannot assist with, or solve, registration issues.
See link below for more information including registration
CLE Program (massbar.org)
CPCS approved 2.0 credits per session for the CAFL (Trial and Appeals); Criminal Defense Trial; Adult Post Conviction; YAD and YAD Appeals

Supporting Unaccompanied Indigenous Youth
2024-09-12 12:00 - 13:30
This program is hosted by Girasol. Any questions or issues regarding this program should be directed there (girasoltexas@gmail.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 CPCS CAFL panel.
See link below for more information and to register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/supporting-unaccompanied-indigenous-youth-tickets-995457318637?aff=erelexpmlt

Representing Clients in Substituted Judgment Proceedings Involving the Request for the Authorization of Aversives by the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC)
2024-09-12 13:00 - 15:00
MHLD Training Department, Staff, and Colleagues Present:
Representing Clients in Substituted Judgment Proceedings Involving the Request for the Authorization of Aversives by the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC)
On Zoom: 2 CLE Credits: MHLD trial & appeals

JOIN Laura Sanford and Karen Talley and your colleagues to watch the recording as part of a facilitated viewing and discussion.

You will learn from:
Bob Fleischner, Senior Advisor to the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH), and Kathryn Rucker, Legal Director of the Center for Public Representation (CPR), who succeeded in getting a petition seeking painful skin shock denied in the Probate Court.
We will review the current law, how to identify and work with experts, and other strategies to zealously represent clients facing substituted judgment proceedings seeking use of Level III aversives.
After this training, you will be better prepared to:

Understand the current law and the proposed FDA regulations
Work with experts to educate the court about aversives and the alternatives
Collaborate with DDS
Advocate zealously for clients facing the potential use of aversive skin shock

Register in advance for one of these meeting:
September 12th JRC Showing Registration (1-3pm)
October 9th JRC Showing Registration (1-3pm)
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

**This training is mandatory for guardianship panelists.**
This training is mandatory due to the SJC rulings in JRC v. DDS, 492 Mass. 772 (2023) and the resulting petitions for use of skin shock for behavioral control.
Email Laura (lsanford@publiccounsel.net) or Karen (ktalley@publiccounsel.net) with any questions.

CPCS Mental Health Litigation Division Attorney Meeting & Training
2024-09-13 13:00 - 15:00
Training: What’s Helpful and What Works
2 MH Trial & Appeals CLE for Worcester County attorneys
1 MH Trials & Appeals CLE for other attorneys
Date & Time: Friday, September 13, 2024
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (for Worcester county attorneys)
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (non-Worcester county attorneys)
Location: Zoom, Meeting ID: 816 0934 1218, Passcode: [REDACTED]
Advanced registration NOT REQUIRED

To register email: lembolaw@outlook.com
Required after registering, complete the below and email to lembolaw@outlook.com:

A helpful quotation from a case, with citation, that you have used or would use in a commitment or guardianship case
Contact information for: a facility, the record department; petitioner’s attorney; court (including days of the week hearings held), include email contacts

Upon completion of this seminar, you will be able to:

Develop winning strategies
Identify specific case law to use at trial

(synopsis of this information shared with attendees)

Consider expanding your practice by knowing contact information for hospitals, courts, opposing counsel in various cases

(information shared with attendees)

For questions, call or call Anna Lembo, Esq., (781) 894-0022, lembolaw@outlook.com

CPCS Walking Challenge
2024-09-16 - 2024-10-11, 2024-09-16
CPCS Walking Challenge! A friendly competition supported by CPCS Wellness Ambassadors for all staff and private counsel using theStepUp App to keep track of steps and get active!

MHLD Civil Commitment Certification
2024-09-20 09:30 - 12:30
