CPCS Website

Get Schooled with EdLaw - Training Series - September
2025-09-08 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Get Schooled with EdLaw – Training Series

Save the date below for part one of a monthly training series with EdLaw on the first Monday of every month (except Labor Day) from 3-4:30pm. We will begin on September 8 with a “back-to-school” session, where we will discuss what education advocacy can look like for your school-aged clients, as well as common issues that arise at the start of the school year and how to address them. Registration required. All trainings will be recorded and available for future viewing.
Over the course of the year, we will cover a variety of topics, including: school stability, discipline overview, suspension hearings, MDRs, discipline appeals, neuropsychological testing, reading an IEP, team meetings, BSEA hearings and conflict resolution, McKinney-Vento, transition services, and English language learners. We’d also love to hear from you if there are additional topics you would like for us to cover!
REGISTER TODAY

Department of Developmental Services Training
2025-09-09 14:00 - 16:00
Department of Developmental Services Training
Join us on Tuesday, September 9th, from 2-4pm for a training Allison Jordan, Esq., Assistant General Counsel and Ashley Boyd Fermin, LICSW, Director of Clinical Services, Regional Risk and Eligibility Manager from the Department of Developmental Services.
Together we will learn what supports DDS can offer, how to navigate applications and appeals, and how to best engage and advocate for clients served by DDS.
This training will be VIRTUAL over Zoom. You must pre-register by following the link here.
2 CLEs are available for MHLD Trial Attorneys

NLT/Zealous Intro to Course
2025-09-10 14:00 - 15:00
Certification Training for Bar Advocates and New CPCS PDD and YAD Staff Attorneys
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
2025-09-11 10:00 - 15:00
Part 1 of MHLD Civil Commitment Certification Course
September 11, 10 AM – 3 PM
Location: Boston Office
In Person Training
Details TBD

The Lawyer Well-Being Series The Legal Profession & Substance Use Disorders: Awareness. Recovery. Change
2025-09-15 12:00 - 13:00
More info on Social Law Library: The Lawyer Well-Being Series The Legal Profession & Substance Use Disorders: Awareness. Recovery. Change – PART 1 – Understanding the Legal Landscape

Join Dr. Jeff Fortgang from Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers for a 2-Part series:
2025-09-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Title: The Lawyer Well-Being Series The Legal Profession & Substance Use Disorders
Date: Part 1: September 15th, 12:00-1:00pm | Part 2: October 20th, 12:00-1:00pm
Platform: Remote – Link to be provided
Part 1: Monday, September 15th from 12 pm to 1 pm
Understanding the Legal Landscape
The first session will explore the scope and impact of substance use disorders within the legal profession. Current research, trends, and contributing factors unique to legal culture will be discussed. An Attorney with lived experience will offer a powerful story of struggle and recovery.
Part 2: Monday, October 20th from 12- 1pm
Treatment, Healing, and Renewal
The second session will focus on treatment, recovery, and the process of returning to personal and professional well-being. Dr. Fortgang will outline treatment options and the challenges of addressing stigma and other obstacles to getting help. An Attorney with lived experience will offer a powerful story of the road to wellness.
Free Program. Online only
Link to be provided once available.
Faculty:
Jeffrey Fortgang, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and long-time staff member of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers

MHLD Civil Commitment Certification
2025-09-15 13:00 - 16:00
Part 2 of MHLD Civil Commitment Certification Course
September 15, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Training through Zoom
Details TBD

CPCS MHLD Worcester County Regional Coordinator Quarterly Training & Meeting
2025-09-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Save the Date!
CPCS MHLD Worcester County Regional Coordinator Quarterly Training & Meeting presented by Toni Hall
Research Resources for Mental Health Attorneys using the Massachusetts Trial Court Libraries with Head Librarian Danielle Fay. (Zoom)
Wednesday – September 17, 2025 2-4 pm
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

Identify and access key legal research resources available through the Massachusetts Trial Court Libraries that are directly relevant to mental health law.
Formulate effective search strategies to locate statutes, case law, and secondary sources (such as practice guides and treatises) pertinent to mental health cases.
Utilize library services to request inter-library loans, get remote assistance from a law librarian, and navigate specialized databases.

2 hours Worcester county CLE training credits
Register here

MHLD Civil Commitment Certification Course
2025-09-18 13:00 - 16:00
Part 3 of MHLD Civil Commitment Certification Course
September 18, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Training through Zoom
Details TBD

Fireside Chat: The Art of the Reply Brief
2025-09-18 14:00 - 15:00
You asked for it, you got it! Join us for a discussion about (a) the rules governing reply briefs, (b) whether or not to file a reply brief, and (c) what a compelling, amazing, and beautiful reply brief should do and look like.

September 18, 2025
2:00 – 3:00 p.m., by Zoom

Advanced Registration Required.
Please Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/z2RlkbbMROSdM0sXiNWzEw

CAFL Appellate Panel Support Unit
1 CLE
Please contact us at CAFLappeals@publiccounsel.net with any questions.

MHLD Civil Commitment Certification Course
2025-09-22 13:00 - 16:00
Part 4 of MHLD Civil Commitment Certification Course
September 22, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Training through Zoom
Details TBD

Red Flags of Wrongful Convictions
2025-09-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Presenters: Lisa Kavanaugh, Director of CPCS Innocence Program; Libby Hugetz, Staff Attorney CPCS Innocence Program; Jill Tessier, Staff Attorney CPCS Innocence Program; Matt Harper-Nixon, Staff Counsel CPCS Criminal Appeals Unit
This lunchtime CLE will focus on the most critical red flags that often underlie wrongful convictions. From eyewitness misidentification and false confessions to Brady violations and ineffective assistance of counsel, the session will examine how these issues manifest in the record. Attendees will learn how to spot systemic patterns, evaluate potential innocence claims, and develop strategies to challenge flawed convictions in post-conviction proceedings.
REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mUdSnP9BTCeLY65koIaCFA
NOTE: 1 CLE credit for each webinar for attorneys on each of the following panels: Criminal Defense (Adult Trials); Post Conviction (Adult); YAD Appeals; Mental Health Appeals; SDP; SORB; Parole; Medical Parole

UMass Medical Doula Program
2025-09-23 13:00 - 14:30
UMass Medical Doula Program
Resources for Childbirth, Breastfeeding, Postpartum Support, and More.
September 23 2025 1-2:30PM
We will be joined by Shantel Collins, Project Coordinator- Doula Program from UMass Memorial. We will learn about different ways doulas can support people in preparing for childhood and postpartum care.
Click Here to Register.

NLT/Zealous Advocacy
2025-09-25 09:30 - 16:30, 2025-09-26 09:30 - 16:30, 2025-09-30 09:30 - 16:30

MHLD Civil Commitment Certification Course
2025-09-25 13:00 - 16:00
Part 5 of MHLD Civil Commitment Certification Course
September 25, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Training through Zoom
Details TBD

September MHLD RED (Race, Equity and Diversity) Talk
2025-09-26 12:00 - 13:00
September MHLD RED (Race, Equity and Diversity) Talk
September 26, 2025 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Drop-in Lunch & Learn to build on other recent race trainings and support you in your MHLD practice!
THIS PROGRAM QUALIFIES FOR 1 CLE ON THE MHLD TRIAL & APPEALS PANEL

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?
This is also a chance to case crunch your cases with your colleagues over lunch!
Come join us!
Please register in Advance

The Supreme Judicial Court, a 2024-2025 review: A tepid year or more than meets the eye?
2025-09-30 16:00 - 18:00
More info on Social Law Library: The Supreme Judicial Court, a 2024-2025 review: A tepid year or more than meets the eye?
