Training for Minors Counsel

Minors Counsel Planning Committee:  Kathleen Mullins Henderson, Julie Levy
Staff Liaison:  Amy Jarvis

For questions regarding our annual training, please contact Amy Jarvis

SCBA, under the direction of the Family Law Section, hosts a live training series for Minors Counsel every year. See dates below for this year's live programs. Past trainings are also available on-demand through SeminarWeb.  

2023 Minors Counsel Training - Special Issues in Custody and Representing Minors (Click Here to Register)

2022 Minors Counsel Training - Special Issues in Custody and Representing Minors  (Click Here)

Stages of Development as They Relate to Children with Special Needs
Speaker:  Kristine Bartlett, Psy. D.

Children and the Court: Determining When Children Should be Involved; Preparing a Child for Testifying in Court; Alternative Means of Obtaining a Child's Input (FC 3042(e))
Speakers:  Hon. James Bertoli, Julianne Major

Recognizing, Evaluating, and Understanding Child Abuse, Neglect, Domestic Violence, and the Long-Term Effects

Working Effectively With Multidisciplinary Experts
Speaker:  Dené Carroll, LCSW

Representing Two or More Siblings Could Create a Conflict for Minor's Counsel
Speakers: Julie Levy; Deborah Reece

Representing Minors:  A How-To Guide for Minors Counsel
Speakers: Julie Levy; Kathleen Mullins Henderson

Bias/Diversity as it Relates to Working with Families and Representing Children
Speakers: Hon. Paul Lozada, Kinna Crocker

Interviewing Children
Speakers: Laura Dunst, Johanna Kleppe, Dr. Rhonda Lindsey 

The 2022 training consists of 9.75 hours of of education. New Minors Counsel will need to complete an additional 2.25 hours of training from any of the programs listed below.

2021 Minors Counsel Training Available On-Demand  (Click Here)

The 2021 training consists of 8 hours of education. New Minors Counsel will need to complete an additional 4 hours of training from the list of additional programs below.

Additional Minors Counsel Programs

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Child Trauma (1 hour)
Building Rapport with Children (1.5 hours)
Cultural Competency in Family Law Practice (45 minutes)
Custody and Visitation Issues (1 hour)
Interviewing Children (1.25 hours)
Secondary Traumatic Stress (1 hour)
Stages of Development as They Affect Move-Away Requests (1 hour)
Representing Minors in Custody and Visitation Proceedings (1.5 hours)

Training Required by CA Rules of Court, Rule 5.242 (c) and (d)
Before being appointed as counsel for a child in a family law proceeding, counsel must have completed at least 12 hours of applicable education. To remain eligible for appointment as counsel for a child, counsel must complete during each calendar year a minimum of eight hours of applicable education. Applicable training must include the following subjects:
(1)  Statutes, rules of court, and case law relating to child custody and visitation litigation;
(2)  Representation of a child in custody and visitation proceedings;
(3)  Special issues in representing a child, including the following:
      (A)  Various stages of child development;
      (B)  Communicating with a child at various developmental stages and presenting the child's view;
      (C)  Recognizing, evaluating and understanding evidence of child abuse and neglect, family violence and substance abuse, cultural and ethnic diversity, and gender-specific issues
      (D)  The effects of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect on children; and
      (E)  How to work effectively with multidisciplinary experts.