Product Description

This program provides a foundational overview of practice in the Massachusetts Juvenile Court, which exercises both civil and criminal jurisdiction over matters involving children, teenagers, and families. The training is designed for attorneys new to Juvenile Court practice, offering guidance on the distinct legal frameworks, procedures, and advocacy strategies required to represent our clients effectively. Participants gain an understanding of the rights afforded to juveniles in delinquency and youthful offender cases, the consequences of court involvement for both juvenile clients and families, and the range of possible outcomes across delinquency and care and protection cases.

Faculty from both the Youth Advocacy and Children and Family Law Divisions of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) address core issues in their respective areas of practice. Delinquency attorneys cover topics such as working with the Department of Youth Services and probation, understanding the implications of adolescent brain development, navigating the impact of trauma on client decisionmaking, and addressing client competency as it relates to capacity, culpability, and adjudicative participation. Child welfare attorneys discuss representing parents and children in care and protection cases, including the legal implications of parental incarceration, advocating for transition-aged youth, and pursuing case outcomes ranging from reunification to guardianship or open adoption. Across both areas, the training touches on the role of developmental science, the long-term consequences of court involvement, and the importance of trauma-informed, client-directed advocacy. 

Agenda & Materials

• 2:00pm - 2:05pm

  Welcome and Introduction

  Nancy L. Hathaway, Esq., Committee for Public Counsel Services, Children and Family Law Division , Boston
  
• 2:05pm - 2:50pm

  Juvenile Delinquency and Youthful Offender Cases

  Laura Alfring, Esq., Committee for Public Counsel Services - Youth Advocacy Division , Roxbury
  Patrick R. Sparks, Esq., Committee for Public Counsel Services , Springfield
  
• 2:50pm - 3:45pm

  Civil Jurisdiction of the Court

  Rebecca Amdemariam, Esq., Committee for Public Counsel Services, Youth Advocacy Division , Boston
  
• 3:45pm - 4:00pm

  "Ask the Experts" Q&A Session and Key Takeaways

  Panel
  

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.

Chair

Faculty