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.
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.
2021 Special Issues in Custody and Representing Minors Series
1 of 6 -Stages of Child Development and the Effects of Move-Away Requests
August 4, 2021;12:00 - 1:00 pm | Speaker: Rhonda Lindsay, Psy. D.
OnDemand Recording2 of 6 -Representing Minors in Custody and Visitation Proceedings
August 18, 2021; 12:00 - 1:30 pm | Speakers: Hon. James Bertoli; Daniel Chester, Esq.
OnDemand Recording3 of 6 - How to Work Effectively with Multidisciplinary Experts
September 8, 2021; 4:00 - 5:00 pm | Speaker: Robin Estes, CFLS
OnDemand Recording4 of 6 - Family Law/Dependency Crossover
September 22, 2021; 4:00 - 5:00 pm | Speaker: Hon. James Bertoli
OnDemand Recording5 of 6 - Recognizing, Evaluating and Understanding Child Abuse, Neglect, Domestic Violence and their Long-Term Effects
October 14, 2021; 3:00 - 5:00 pm | Speaker: Robin Estes, CFLS
OnDemand Recording6 of 6 -Statutes, rules of court, and case law relating to child custody and visitation litigation
OnDemand Recording
The above training consists of 8 hours of education. New Minors Counsel: to complete your 12 hours of training, please select 4 hours of the following recordings:
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)