| GAL Practice in Rhode Island Family Court
Sponsored with the Rhode Island Family Court and the Rhode Island Bar Association
Please Note: This course has already
been held.
Date: Monday, October 04, and Tuesday, October 5 2004
Location: Rhode Island Bar Association
115 Cedar Street, Providence, RI
Time: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Registration Information
Unable to attend but are interested in the course materials?
Purchase Here! |
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As a Guardian ad Litem, you need to have an understanding of both the legal and psychological aspects of child custody and state intervention cases. The Rhode Island Family Court has recognized the vast understanding needed to effectively serve as a Guardian ad Litem in these complex cases. As a result, the Court now requires GALs to complete a minimum of six hours of professional development each year.
This interdisciplinary program, presented by prominent practitioners from the fields of law and psychology provides both legal and clinical foundations for Guardian ad Litem practice in a range of matters, including domestic relations, child abuse and neglect. Complex issues such as Parent Alienation Theory and high conflict families will be discussed; as well as specialized issues, such as sexual abuse, substance abuse and relocation which frequently impact these families.
This comprehensive two day program also provides concrete practice tips. The expert faculty will provide interview, investigation and report writing tips. Attend and gain insight into the mechanics of the Guardian ad Litem appointment. Learn about the new GAL standards proposed by the RI Family Court. Finally, members of the Bench will provide a judicial commentary and answer your questions about GAL appointments in RI Family Court.
In its entirety, this program satisfies the RI Family Court’s professional development requirements for GALs and will provide 14 RICLE credits including 2 ethics credits.
Attend and Learn:
- Effective investigation methods and interview techniques
- How to best organize a written report and communicate effectively with the court
- What is Parent Alienation Theory?
- How to represent consistently the best interests of the child and advocate on behalf of the child’s best interest
- To recognize substance abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence
- Understand the law as it pertains to GAL appointments
~Schedule/Agenda~ Day One-October 4, 2004 9:00 Welcome and Introductions
9:15 Role of the Guardian ad Litem - RI Family Court’s GAL standards for domestic cases
- What is the function of the GAL?
- Who is the client?
- What are the different types of appointments and authority?
- Visitation and "on-going" issues
- When should a lawyer, mental health professional or both be appointed?
- Mechanics of an appointment; fees, etc.
Maureen Conroy, Esq., Jessup & Conroy
Lise Iwon, Esq., Laurence & Iwon
Sharon O’Keefe, Esq., Providence, RI
Elizabeth W. Segovis, Esq., RI Legal Services, Inc.
10:15 Judicial Commentary
Honorable Haiganush Bedrosian, Rhode Island Family Court
10:30 Overview of Child Development
Peter Kosseff, Ph.D., Powell Psychological Associates
11:45 Introduction to the Investigation and Interview Techniques-Part I - How to start an investigation/evaluation
- Strategies for data gathering and observations
- Interview techniques
- Sources of information
- What kind of information is relevant
- Review of the APA standards and other standards for child custody evaluations
- Privacy & confidentiality issues
- How to communicate with a child client (to be continued)
Raymond J. Angell, Esq., Cassal & Angell
Janet Gilligan, Deputy Director, RI Legal Services, Inc.
1:00 Lunch on your own
2:00 Interview and Investigation-Part II - Identify techniques for successfully interviewing adolescents and child clients
- Learn the limitations on cognitive capacities, present-oriented thinking, perceptions of authority figures and the impact on the interview dynamic
- Discuss how to factor these considerations into your demeanor, approach
and language use
Janet Gilligan, Deputy Director, Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.
Stacy Abjornson, Sexual Assault & Trauma Center of RI
Maggie Salter, Ph.D., Portland ME
4:00 Conclude
Day 2-October 5, 2004 9:00 Welcome and Introductions 9:10 Overview of Domestic Violence - How to recognize and identify domestic violence
- What the GAL needs to know about Domestic Violence
Robin Deustch, Ph.D., Children and the Law Program, MGH 11:15 Report Writing/Testimony? - How to organize the information obtained
- Fact v. opinion
- Format and/or structure of the report
- Drawing conclusions and making recommendations
- Which elements to include and/or emphasize in the report for each type of appointment?
- Who has access to report?
- Post filing contact with the Guardian ad Litem
- What happens to the report after it is filed?
Sharon O’Keefe, Providence, RI
Maggie Salter, Ph.D., Portland, ME 12:30 Lunch on your own
1:30 Overview of Specialized Issues - Substance Abuse - Jon Brett, Ph.D., STARR, Inc.
- Sexual Abuse - Stacy Abjornson,Sexual Assault & Trauma Center
- Relocation - Peter Sangiovanni, Jr., Esq., Warwick, RI
- Parent Alienation Theory - Maggie Salter, Ph.D., Portland, ME
2:30 Breakout Discussion on Special Issues
Following the brief overview presentations on specialized issues, participants will have an opportunity to break into smaller groups and discuss these complex issues in greater detail. Presenters and other experienced GALs will be available to answer questions and facilitate the discussion. 3:45 Judicial Commentary
Family court Judges 5:00 Conclude
| Date: |
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Monday, October 04, and Tuesday, October 5 2004 |
| Tuition: |
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Tuition is $249; $199 for professionals licensed after 1999 and members of the RI Volunteer Lawyers program who agree to commit to a pro bono case. Course book and refreshments included in the tuition charge. Payments should be sent to the following address:
RI Bar CLE
115 Cedar Street
Providence, RI 02903
Make checks payable to Rhode Island Bar Association. You may call the Rhode Island Bar Association at
(401) 421-5740 or fax them at (401) 421-2703 to register with a MasterCard or Visa. To register on-line, use this site or go to http://www.ribar.com.
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| Walk-Ins: |
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Space is limited. Registrations at the door are welcome, but please register in advance to reserve a seat and your written course materials or call to confirm space availability.
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| Refunds: |
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Written requests for cancellations received via fax or email 24 hours prior to the program will be granted a refund, minus a $15 charge. If you cannot attend, you can send a substitute, otherwise you will receive the written course materials.
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| Location: |
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Rhode Island Bar Association
115 Cedar Street, Providence, RI
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| Credit: |
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Approved for 14 CLE credits in Rhode Island (including 2 ethics credits). Also approved for credit in NH, VT & ME. This course, in it’s entirety, provides 6 GAL Professional Development Credits and satisfies the RI Family Court GAL Requirement. CE Credit for Social Workers has been approved for 11 total credits, 3 of which are professional ethics. Psychologists is pending, please call 617-573-8627 for more information.
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Special
Needs: |
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If you have special needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, please notify us as soon as possible.
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Unable to attend but are interested in the course materials?
Purchase Here! |
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