Amy Karp, Training Director
Katharine Klubock, Supervising Attorney
Katrina Krywonis, Legal Training Attorney
Rebecca Amdemariam, Legal Training Attorney
Catherine Madsen –   Legal Training Attorney
Cristina Freitas –   Legal Training Attorney
Debbie Freitas –  Legal Training Attorney
Kendra Antonius – Administrative Assistant


Training to Represent Children and Parents in Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) Cases

CPCS’s Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) is now accepting applications for its Winter 2025 Child Requiring Assistance Certification Training.  Attorneys who successfully complete the training will be certified to represent children and parents in child requiring assistance (CRA) cases.  Accepted applicants will attend a four-day training that consists of live Zoom sessions and self-directed learning.  The live Zoom sessions will take place from 2:00 -5:00 p.m. on February 3, 6, and 10, 2025.  Participants are also expected to attend an orientation by Zoom on January 29, 2025 from 4:00-5:00 p.m.  Applications are due on December 29, 2024, but will be accepted on a rolling basis until the training is filled.  For additional information, please see our Winter 2025 CRA Training Announcement.  To apply, please complete our online Winter 2025 CRA Certification Training Application.

 

Training to Represent Children and Parents in Care and Protection/Termination of Parental Rights and Child Requiring Assistance Cases

CPCS’s Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) is now accepting applications for its Spring 2025 CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training.  Attorneys who successfully complete the training will be certified to represent children and indigent parents in care and protection/termination of parental rights and child requiring assistance (CRA) cases in the Juvenile Court.  Accepted applicants are expected to attend a brief orientation on Zoom on March 12, 2025, followed by a hybrid training presented on dates between March 17, 2025 and April 14, 2025. The training is a mix of five full day in-person sessions, three half-day live zoom sessions, and substantial self-directed learning. The training concludes with a full day in-person mock temporary custody hearing.  Applications are due on February 7, 2025, but will be accepted on a rolling basis until the training is filled.  For additional information, please see our Spring 2025 CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training Announcement.  To apply, please complete our online Spring 2025 CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training Application.

 

APPLY FOR OUR CAFL APPELLATE TRAINING AND BECOME CERTIFIED TO REPRESENT CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN CARE AND PROTECTION AND GUARDIANSHIP APPEALS!

CAFL is now accepting applications for its Winter 2025 Appellate Panel Certification Training.  All admitted applicants must attend the four-day virtual CAFL appellate training program scheduled for January 21, 23, 28, and 30, 2025.  The training, which will be conducted by Zoom, will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day.  There will also be an orientation by Zoom on January 14, 2025 from 4:00-5:00 p.m.  The agency actively seeks to diversify its private attorney panel membership. Applications are due on December 2, 2024, but will be accepted on a rolling basis until the training is filled. For more information and to apply see our Notice and Appellate Certification Application.

 

TRAINING TO REPRESENT CHILDREN, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS IN GUARDIANSHIP OF MINOR PROCEEDINGS IN THE PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT

This winter CAFL is presenting a training program for attorneys who wish to become certified to represent children, parents and guardians in guardianship of minor proceedings in the Probate and Family Court.  The training is open to all CAFL staff attorneys, as well as all private CAFL attorneys in good standing on the Care & Protection trial panel.  (Staff attorneys should check in with their AIC before registering.)  If you are already certified to take guardianship of minor cases in the Probate and Family Court and want to come to the training for a refresher, you are welcome to do so.  If you are not sure if you are already certified to take guardianship cases, please contact Rita Caso at [email protected] to find out.

The training will be a mix of zoom live sessions and self-directed work.  The zoom live sessions will take place on February 25th and March 4th from 2:00-4:30. Attendees will be required to watch recorded lectures and complete assignments before each of the sessions.  Total self-directed work should take about 2 ½ hours. You must be available for both live sessions. Approved for 8 CAFL CLEs.

You can register for the guardianship certification here:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/CommitteeForPublicCounselServices/TrainingToRepresentChildrenParentsAndGuardiansInGuardianshipOfMinorProceedingsInTheProbateAndFamilyCourt

The registration deadline is February 1, 2025.  If you have any questions about the training, please email [email protected].

 

 

PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING
CAFL CLES

Please read the following carefully to ensure that your CLE credits are processed.

  • Kaitlyn Severin ([email protected]) is the point person for CAFL CLEs. Please do not send CLE-related questions or documents to Rita Caso unless explicitly instructed to do so.
  • Fill out this form for each CAFL-approved training you complete: https://www.cognitoforms.com/committeeforpubliccounselservices/caflcleaffirmationform. You no longer need to submit certificates or affirmation documents. The signed electronic form is sufficient to affirm attendance.
  • When you submit the form, you will receive an automatic confirmation for your records. You will not receive further confirmation from Kaitlyn, but you can reach out to her with any questions.
  • Please check the CPCS Training Calendar first to see if a program is approved for credit. If you would like to request credit for a program that is not on the list, please email [email protected].
  • Note about recordings of past trainings: In addition to future training programs, attorneys can take advantage of the many recorded webinars approved for credit in prior years.  Recordings of CPCS trainings can be found on MyGideon.org.  If you are having trouble logging in to MyGideon, please email [email protected].  There are also recordings of approved webinars available on the websites of outside organizations such as MCLE, the Children’s Bureau, the NACC and the ABA.

 

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