Events

MHLD – Guardianship Certification Course Date: 2/24/2025 10 AM – 3 PM Worcester Office In-Person Details TBD

Fair Hearings: Administrative Challenges to DCF Decisions   February 24, 2026 1:00-2:00pm 1 CAFL CLE Presented by Megan Deeley, CAFL Litigation Support Attorney ([email protected]) Learn how to challenge clinical and administrative decisions by DCF with this overview of the fundamentals of Fair Hearings, including how to appeal adverse hearing decisions to superior court. Fair hearings […]

The next Racial Justice Mentors Case Crunch will be February 26, 1:00-2:00pm. Do you have a case where you are encountering Cultural Bias? Come talk about how to challenge these biases in and out of court. Please send questions to the facilitators ahead of time if possible. Facilitator: Noor Kazmi [email protected]. Approved for 1 CAFL […]

What: “Common Objections and Where to Make Them" When: Feb 26, 2026 04:30 PM Description:  Judge Susan McNeil of the Haverhill District will provide a refresher on common objections during commitment hearings and her views on when to make them. She will answer questions that are put in the chat during the meeting from participants. […]

MHLD – Guardianship Certification Course Date: 2/27/2025 In-Person - Federal St. 10 AM - 3 PM Details TBD

Meeting Registration - Zoom

Session 1: The Basics in Finding, Retaining, and Drafting an Expert Witness Disclosure (Wednesday March 4, 2026, from 1-2pm) Upcoming Sessions: Session 2: Qualifying the Expert Witness (Tuesday March 10, 2026, from 1-2pm) Session 3: Eliciting the Expert Opinion (Wednesday March 18, 2026, from 1-2pm) Session 4: Challenging Experts and Techniques for Dealing with Difficult […]

Search, Seizure, & Statements in School March 4, 2026 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Register here  Remote Training Through Zoom

MHLD Racial Bias & Cultural Competency Working Group Meeting Greetings Panelists and Staff, Join us on the first Friday of every month  for the MHLD Racial Bias/Cultural Competence Group. We are MHLD practitioners of all stripes.  We meet to further our goal of identifying bias and increasing our resources to address bias in all facets […]

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials Date: 3/9/2026 Location: TBD Details TBD

Session 2: Qualifying the Expert Witness (Tuesday March 10, 2026, from 1-2pm) Upcoming Sessions: Session 3: Eliciting the Expert Opinion (Wednesday March 18, 2026, from 1-2pm) Session 4: Challenging Experts and Techniques for Dealing with Difficult Experts on Cross Exam (Tuesday March 24, 2026, from 1-2pm)

Full Schedule: March 11 – Orientation March 16 – In person March 19 – Zoom March 23 – In person March 26 – Zoom March 30 – In person April 2, 6, 13 – In person Mock Hearing: April 28, 29, 30

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials Date: 3/11/2026 Location: TBD Details TBD

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials Date: 3/11/2026 Location: TBD Details TBD

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials Date: 3/13/2026 Location: TBD Details TBD

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials Date: 3/16/2026 Location: TBD Details TBD

Full Schedule: March 11 – Orientation March 16 – In person March 19 – Zoom March 23 – In person March 26 – Zoom March 30 – In person April 2, 6, 13 – In person Mock Hearing: April 28, 29, 30

Session 3: Eliciting the Expert Opinion (Wednesday March 18, 2026, from 1-2pm) Upcoming Sessions: Session 4: Challenging Experts and Techniques for Dealing with Difficult Experts on Cross Exam (Tuesday March 24, 2026, from 1-2pm)

CPCS MHLD Worcester County Regional Coordinator Quarterly Training & Meeting presented by Toni Hall March 18 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Save the Date! 2:00 - 3:00 pm Getting the most from your Social Service Experts for Mental Health Panel Attorneys with Olivia Dubois. (ZOOM) By the end of this training, participants will be able to: […]

Full Schedule: March 11 – Orientation March 16 – In person March 19 – Zoom March 23 – In person March 26 – Zoom March 30 – In person April 2, 6, 13 – In person Mock Hearing: April 28, 29, 30

MHLD – Guardianship Certification – Mock Trials Date: 3/20/2026 Location: TBD Details TBD

Full Schedule: March 11 – Orientation March 16 – In person March 19 – Zoom March 23 – In person March 26 – Zoom March 30 – In person April 2, 6, 13 – In person Mock Hearing: April 28, 29, 30

The SJC Court Improvement Program (CIP) Presents: CRA school truancy cases often are labeled as “school refusal,” but research and experience requires a reframing of this experience as school avoidance/distress. At this workshop, experts will explain the root causes of school avoidance/distress and strategize how to successfully assist families navigating this complex topic. Workshop Speakers: […]

Session 4: Challenging Experts and Techniques for Dealing with Difficult Experts on Cross Exam (Tuesday March 24, 2026, from 1-2pm)

The Office of the Child Advocate has coordinated this full-day training opportunity for anyone who works in the juvenile court with a focus on delinquency and child requiring assistance cases. The goal is to give you the knowledge and tools you need to apply a trauma-responsive, developmentally-informed, equity-centered lens in your work. The training is […]

Full Schedule: March 11 – Orientation March 16 – In person March 19 – Zoom March 23 – In person March 26 – Zoom March 30 – In person April 2, 6, 13 – In person Mock Hearing: April 28, 29, 30

Please join us for a presentation on the Permanency Mediation Program through Plummer Youth Promise. Diane Baumgartner, Permanency Mediation Supervisor, will be presenting information on the program, types of cases that they handle (including reunification and parenting plans), and their Family Consultation Team Approach. Their brochure is PYP Permanency Mediation Brochure. This presentation will occur […]

Learning objectives: Understand your clients' experiences through a trauma-informed lens. Learn how active listening, trauma-informed communication and creating therapeutic presence can help lawyers better support their clients Develop an understanding of how motivational interviewing can be helpful for resistant or ambivalent clients Explore learning tools for difficult conversations including delivering bad news, de-escalation when clients are […]

Full Schedule: March 11 – Orientation March 16 – In person March 19 – Zoom March 23 – In person March 26 – Zoom March 30 – In person April 2, 6, 13 – In person Mock Hearing: April 28, 29, 30

MARCH MHLD RED (Race, Equity and Diversity) Talk Virtual Event March 31, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Drop-in Lunch & Learn to build on other recent race trainings and […]

April 1, 2026 (rescheduled from February 24, 2026) 1:00-2:00pm 1 CAFL CLE Presented by Megan Deeley, CAFL Litigation Support Attorney ([email protected]) Learn how to challenge clinical and administrative decisions by DCF with this overview of the fundamentals of Fair Hearings, including how to appeal adverse hearing decisions to superior court. Fair hearings are an important […]

Full Schedule: March 11 – Orientation March 16 – In person March 19 – Zoom March 23 – In person March 26 – Zoom March 30 – In person April 2, 6, 13 – In person Mock Hearing: April 28, 29, 30

Family Preservation Project Training Collaborating with CAFL Attorneys   Thursday, April 2, 2026, from 1 to 2 p.m. By Zoom 1 CLE Credit Community Legal Aid The first of its kind in Massachusetts, Community Legal Aid’s Family Preservation Project (FPP) provides legal and non-legal support to families who are involved with the Department of Children […]

Family Preservation Project Training Collaborating with CAFL Attorneys   Thursday, April 2, 2026, from 1 to 2 p.m. By Zoom 1 CLE Credit Community Legal Aid The first of its kind in Massachusetts, Community Legal Aid’s Family Preservation Project (FPP) provides legal and non-legal support to families who are involved with the Department of Children […]

April 3, 2026 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Join us on the first Friday of every month  for the MHLD Racial Bias/Cultural Competence Group. We are MHLD practitioners of all stripes.  We meet to further our goal of identifying bias and increasing our resources to address bias in all facets of our practice, whether in […]