Product Description

Have you recently been approved by the Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court to take the mandatory two-day training? This training is for you.

Are you interested in learning more about being a Category E and/or Category F GAL and/or considering applying to be a Category E/F GAL? This training is for you.

If you are considering applying to be a Category E/F GAL, you can take this training now and then submit your application. Attendance at this training does not guarantee approval of your application, but will provide you with the tools you will need to prepare you for the application process.

This training must be taken live and there will be check-in prompts. Category E and F guardian ad litem investigators/evaluators provide critical information and insights to the Probate and Family Court in the areas of domestic relations, child custody, and visitation.

In this training, you are introduced to the Category E and Category F Standards, and learn how to apply those standards to your evaluations/investigations, including how to prepare for the evaluation/investigation, conduct it, and then write the report. You also learn about interviewing, particularly children, confidentiality and privilege, and bias.

Agenda & Materials

• Day 1 of Training – October 28, 2020
• 9:00 am – 9:45 am

  Welcome, Logistics of Fee Generating Appointments, Introduction to the Standards

  Diane J. Beswick, Esq., Probate and Family Court Administrative Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Denise M. Fitzgerald, Esq., Probate and Family Court Administrative Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  
• 9:45 am – 10:45 am

  Role of GAL and Differences Between E and F Appointments

  Thomas D. Ritter, Esq., Atwood & Cherny, PC , Boston
  
• 10:45 am – 11:00 am

  Break
• 11:00 am – 11:45 am

  Beginning an Investigation/Evaluation

  Joanne E. Romanow, Esq., Casner & Edwards LLP , Boston
  
• 11:45 am – 12:15 pm

  Q and A

  Diane J. Beswick, Esq., Probate and Family Court Administrative Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Denise M. Fitzgerald, Esq., Probate and Family Court Administrative Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Dr. Mira Z. Levitt, Ph.D., Co-Parenting Assessment Center , Natick
  Thomas D. Ritter, Esq., Atwood & Cherny, PC , Boston
  Joanne E. Romanow, Esq., Casner & Edwards LLP , Boston
  
• 12:15 pm – 12:45 pm

  Break
• 12:45 pm – 2:15 pm

  How to Conduct an Investigation/Evaluation

  Dr. Mira Z. Levitt, Ph.D., Co-Parenting Assessment Center , Natick
  Linda Medeiros, Esq., Law Office of Linda Medeiros , Danvers
  
• 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm

  Break
• 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm

  Putting it all together/Report Writing & Post-report

  Dr. Robert A. Zibbell, Ph.D., Robert A. Zibbell, Ph.D. , Monument Beach
  
• 3:45 pm – 4:15 pm

  Writing Tips/Pitfalls to Avoid/Quality over Quantity (and Q&A)

  Diane J. Beswick, Esq., Probate and Family Court Administrative Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Denise M. Fitzgerald, Esq., Probate and Family Court Administrative Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Dr. Mira Z. Levitt, Ph.D., Co-Parenting Assessment Center , Natick
  Linda Medeiros, Esq., Law Office of Linda Medeiros , Danvers
  Thomas D. Ritter, Esq., Atwood & Cherny, PC , Boston
  Dr. Robert A. Zibbell, Ph.D., Robert A. Zibbell, Ph.D. , Monument Beach
  
• Day 2 of Training – October 29, 2020
• 8:45 am – 9:00 am

  Welcome

  Diane J. Beswick, Esq., Probate and Family Court Administrative Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  Denise M. Fitzgerald, Esq., Probate and Family Court Administrative Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Boston
  
• 9:00 am – 10:15 am

  Implicit Bias/Cognitive Bias

  David A. Hoffman, Esq., Boston Law Collaborative LLC , Boston
  Dr. Robert A. Zibbell, Ph.D., Robert A. Zibbell, Ph.D. , Monument Beach
  
• 10:15 am – 10:30 am

  Break
• 10:30 am – 11:45 am

  Confidentiality and Privilege

  Linda Medeiros, Esq., Law Office of Linda Medeiros , Danvers
  
• 11:45 am – 12:00 pm

  Break
• 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

  Interviewing

  ,
  Dr. Stephanie Tabashneck, Esq., Licensed Psychologist , Wellesley Hills
  

Please Note

MCLE webcasts are delivered completely online, underscoring their convenience and appeal. There are no published print materials. All written materials are available electronically only. They are posted 24 hours prior to the program and can be accessed, downloaded, or printed from your computer.

Cochairs

Faculty