CPCS Website

MHLD – Guardianship Certification Course
2026-02-24 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
MHLD – Guardianship Certification Course
Date: 2/24/2025
10 AM – 3 PM
Worcester Office
In-Person
Details TBD

Fair Hearings: Administrative Challenges to DCF Decisions
2026-02-24 13:00 - 14:00
Fair Hearings: Administrative Challenges to DCF Decisions

February 24, 2026
1:00-2:00pm
1 CAFL CLE
Presented by Megan Deeley, CAFL Litigation Support Attorney (mdeeley@publiccounsel.net)
Learn how to challenge clinical and administrative decisions by DCF with this overview of the fundamentals of Fair Hearings, including how to appeal adverse hearing decisions to superior court. Fair hearings are an important tool for any CAFL trial or pre-petition attorney that can lead to real, tangible results for parent, children, and young adult clients.
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Jb32qApxTu69gPUVyTIMvg

Racial Justice Mentors Case Crunch
2026-02-26 13:00 - 14:00
The next Racial Justice Mentors Case Crunch will be February 26, 1:00-2:00pm.
Do you have a case where you are encountering Cultural Bias? Come talk about how to challenge these biases in and out of court.
Please send questions to the facilitators ahead of time if possible. Facilitator: Noor Kazmi noorkazmilaw@gmail.com. Approved for 1 CAFL CLE. Register Here

Common Objections and Where to Make Them
2026-02-26 16:30 - 17:30
What: “Common Objections and Where to Make Them”
When: Feb 26, 2026 04:30 PM
Description: Judge Susan McNeil of the Haverhill District will provide a refresher on common objections during commitment hearings and her views on when to make them. She will answer questions that are put in the chat during the meeting from participants. Judge McNeil was a litigator for many years prior to her becoming a judge. She has heard numerous commitment cases. Objectives: After attending this training and hearing a view from the bench, participants will be able to:

Identify how to be vigilant in preserving the record with the use of objections

Describe effective objections to make during commitment hearings.

Please register in advance at this link.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2mEKogHVRQak-rTC7JcBUg

MHLD – Guardianship Certification Course
2026-02-27 10:00 - 15:00
MHLD – Guardianship Certification Course
Date: 2/27/2025
10 AM – 3 PM
In-Person – Federal St.
Details TBD

Get Schooled with EdLaw
2026-03-02 15:00 - 17:00
Meeting Registration – Zoom

March Madness
2026-03-04 13:00 - 14:00
Session 1: The Basics in Finding, Retaining, and Drafting an Expert Witness Disclosure (Wednesday March 4, 2026, from 1-2pm)
Upcoming Sessions:
Session 2: Qualifying the Expert Witness (Tuesday March 10, 2026, from 1-2pm)
Session 3: Eliciting the Expert Opinion (Wednesday March 18, 2026, from 1-2pm)
Session 4: Challenging Experts and Techniques for Dealing with Difficult Experts on Cross Exam (Tuesday March 24, 2026, from 1-2pm)

YAD - Search, Seizure, & Statements in School
2026-03-04 13:30 - 15:00
Search, Seizure, & Statements in School
March 4, 2026
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Register Here
Remote Training Through Zoom

MHLD Racial Bias & Cultural Competency Working Group Meeting
2026-03-06 13:00 - 14:00
March 6, 2026
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Join us on the first Friday of every month for the MHLD Racial Bias/Cultural Competence Group.

We are MHLD practitioners of all stripes. We meet to further our goal of identifying bias and increasing our resources to address bias in all facets of our practice, whether in apprehension by police, in hospitals and treatment, or bias in court.
There are no CLEs for this event.

Register at this link.

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
2026-03-09 09:00 - 17:00
MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
Date: 3/9/2026
Location: TBD
Details TBD

March Madness
2026-03-10 13:00 - 14:00
Session 2: Qualifying the Expert Witness (Tuesday March 10, 2026, from 1-2pm)
Upcoming Sessions:
Session 3: Eliciting the Expert Opinion (Wednesday March 18, 2026, from 1-2pm)
Session 4: Challenging Experts and Techniques for Dealing with Difficult Experts on Cross Exam (Tuesday March 24, 2026, from 1-2pm)

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
2026-03-11 09:00 - 17:00
MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
Date: 3/11/2026
Location: TBD
Details TBD

CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training Orientation
2026-03-11 14:00 - 16:00
Full Schedule:

Wednesday, March 11, 2:00-4:00 orientation
Monday, March 16, 9:30-4:30 – in person
Thursday, March 19, 1:00-4:30 – zoom
Monday, March 23, 9:30-4:30 – in person
Thursday, March 26, 1:00-4:30 – zoom
Monday, March 30, 9:30-4:30 – in person
Thursday, April 2, 1:00-4:30 – zoom
Monday, April 6, 9:30-4:30 – in person
Monday, April 13, 9:30-4:30 – in person

April 28, 29, & 30, 8:45-5:00 – mock hearings in person

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
2026-03-13 09:00 - 17:00
MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
Date: 3/13/2026
Location: TBD
Details TBD

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
2026-03-16 09:00 - 17:00
MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
Date: 3/16/2026
Location: TBD
Details TBD

CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training
2026-03-16 09:30 - 16:30, 2026-03-19 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-23 09:30 - 16:30, 2026-03-26 13:00 - 16:30, 2026-03-30 09:30 - 16:30

March Madness
2026-03-18 13:00 - 14:00
Session 3: Eliciting the Expert Opinion (Wednesday March 18, 2026, from 1-2pm)
Upcoming Sessions:
Session 4: Challenging Experts and Techniques for Dealing with Difficult Experts on Cross Exam (Tuesday March 24, 2026, from 1-2pm)

Regulations Workshop
2026-03-18 13:00 - 15:30

CPCS MHLD Worcester County Regional Coordinator Quarterly Training and Meeting
2026-03-18 14:00 - 16:00
CPCS MHLD Worcester County Regional Coordinator Quarterly Training & Meeting presented by Toni Hall
March 18 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Save the Date!
CPCS MHLD Worcester County Regional Coordinator Quarterly Training & Meeting presented by Toni Hall
2:00 – 3:00 pm Getting the most from your Social Service Experts for Mental Health Panel Attorneys with Olivia Dubois. (ZOOM)
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

Identify and leverage the distinct roles and expertise of various social service experts, understanding how their contributions can strengthen legal arguments and client outcomes.
Formulate precise and effective questions for social service experts to elicit crucial information for case development while respecting professional boundaries and confidentiality.
Strategically integrate expert-provided information and testimony into legal pleadings, trial preparation, and negotiation to advocate more effectively for clients.

2 hours Worcester county CLE training credits
Register here!

Social Law Library: Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure 14-14.4 Criminal Discovery Update
2026-03-19 16:00 - 18:00
Register Here
This program is hosted by Social Law Library. Any questions or issues regarding this program should be directed there (msaporito@socialaw.com). This event is being listed for informational purposes only. CPCS staff cannot assist with, or solve, registration issues.

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
2026-03-20 09:00 - 17:00
MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials
Date: 3/20/2026
Location: TBD
Details TBD

Reframing School Refusal Understanding School Avoidance/Distress in CRA cases
2026-03-23 14:30 - 16:30
The SJC Court Improvement Program (CIP) Presents:
CRA school truancy cases often are labeled as “school refusal,” but research and experience requires a reframing of this experience as school avoidance/distress. At this workshop, experts will explain the root causes of school avoidance/distress and strategize how to successfully assist families navigating this complex topic.
Workshop Speakers:
Robin Richardson, Family Support Specialist at Parent/Professional Advocacy League & Lived Experience Expert
Sheilah M. Gauch, M. Ed, LICSW, Principal & Clinical Director at Dearborn Academy
Mahly Alejandro, LCSW, Director at the Worcester Family Resource Center
Elisa Giron Aguilar, School Liaison at the Worcester Family Resource Center
Marisol Garcia, JD, Deputy Director at Health Law Advocates
Lisa Morrow, JD, Managing Attorney at Health Law Advocates

March Madness
2026-03-24 13:00 - 14:00
Session 4: Challenging Experts and Techniques for Dealing with Difficult Experts on Cross Exam (Tuesday March 24, 2026, from 1-2pm)

Understanding Youth Behavior Through a Trauma, Equity, and Resilience Lens
2026-03-25 10:00 - 16:00
The Office of the Child Advocate has coordinated this full-day training opportunity for anyone who works in the juvenile court with a focus on delinquency and child requiring assistance cases. The goal is to give you the knowledge and tools you need to apply a trauma-responsive, developmentally-informed, equity-centered lens in your work. The training is free, each session is approved for 5.5 CLE for YAD and CAFL, and breakfast and lunch is included. To maximize accessibility, this training will be delivered four times in different locations:

March 25, 2026, 10:00am-4:00pm: United Teen Equality Center (UTEC), Lowell MA
April 23, 2026, 10:00am-4:00pm: McCormack Building, Boston, MA
May 28, 2026, 10:00am-4:00pm: YWCA of Western MA, Springfield, MA
June 10, 2026, 10:00am-4:00pm: UMass Dartmouth School of Law, Dartmouth, MA

Permanency Mediation Program through Plummer Youth Promise
2026-03-26 13:00 - 14:00
Please join us for a presentation on the Permanency Mediation Program through Plummer Youth Promise. Diane Baumgartner, Permanency Mediation Supervisor, will be presenting information on the program, types of cases that they handle (including reunification and parenting plans), and their Family Consultation Team Approach. Their brochure is PYP Permanency Mediation Brochure.
This presentation will occur on March 26 at 1 PM via zoom, link below. Attendance is approved for 1 CLE.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84271782718?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 842 7178 2718
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Communicating with Clients and Building Rapport and Trust
2026-03-27 11:00 - 12:30
Learning objectives:

Understand your clients’ experiences through a trauma-informed lens.
Learn how active listening, trauma-informed communication and creating therapeutic presence can help lawyers better support their clients
Develop an understanding of how motivational interviewing can be helpful for resistant or ambivalent clients
Explore learning tools for difficult conversations including delivering bad news, de-escalation when clients are distressed, setting boundaries
Understand the importance of Lawyer Self-Regulation & ways to reduce Secondary Trauma

Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ebNOK6eGRdqjDLBegVyS7Q
CLE’s Approved for the Following Panels: CAFL, YAD Trials & Appeals, Criminal Trials & Appeals, MH Trials & Appeals, SDP/SORB, Parole/Med Parole
Contact Beau Kealy (bkealy@publiccounsel.net) or Jen Magaw (jmagaw@publiccounsel.net) with any questions.
