California Family Law Basics: Pro Bono Representation in Low-Income Family Law Cases

Topics:
  • Family Law

February 4-5, 2013


9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.


Live in San Francisco & Via Live Webcast


Free!





Why You Should Attend:





Millions of Californians are unrepresented in Family Court matters (estimated 80% of litigants are unrepresented). Low-income clients are in desperate need of your pro bono help. Attend this free PLI program and volunteer with your local legal services agency to represent low-income Family law litigants in need. With a limited time commitment, you can help obtain essential legal protections needed for survivors and their children to build a safe life free of abuse!





What You Will Learn


• Introduction to Family Law


Overview of both substantive and procedural issues in Family law, including basic principles of dissolution of marriage, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, and community property, as well as basic procedures for filing documents, preparing for hearings, and negotiating with the opposing party.


• Motions Practice in Family Law Cases


A basic introduction to procedural steps to obtaining immediate orders (including judicial council forms, Family law hearings, etc) and how to handle Family law court hearings.


• Basic Introduction to Child Custody and Visitation


A basic introduction to obtaining child custody and visitation orders (including motions, Family Court Services and hearing practice).


• Obtaining Child and Spousal Support in Low-Income Family Law Cases


A basic introduction to child and spousal support in low-income Family law cases, including: substantive basis for child and spousal support; procedural steps to obtaining orders (ex motion forms, declarations, supporting evidence and Income and Expense Declaration); working with the Department of Child Support Services; and how to handle support hearing.


• Property Issues in Low-Income Family Law Cases


A basic introduction to property issues in Family law cases including: Identifying Community and Separate Property Assets and Debts; mandatory disclosures and forms; a general summary of formal discovery (note, this is session will not provide extensive training on discovery); and distribution of assets and debts.


• Using California Family Law Judicial Council Forms


A detailed summary of using California Judicial Council forms in Family law cases - from initial filings all the way through to Judgment. Note that the training does not cover marital settlement agreements or trial briefs.





Who Should Attend


Any California licensed attorney interested in providing pro bono assistance to low-income Family law cases (whether limited scope Family law matters or full representation in a dissolution matter). This training is designed for new attorneys and attorneys who are interested in transitioning to Family law practice. ?





Program Schedule





Day One: February 4, 2013





9:00


Program Overview and Introductions


Stephanie E. Bilinski





9:15


Family Law 101 / Overview in Low-Income Family Law Cases, Part I


• Working with pro bono low-income clients (responsibilities and boundaries)


• Basic overview of Family law: terminology, applicable statutes, and Family law proceedings (Superior Court, Local Rules); Judicial Council forms


Stephanie E. Bilinski, Yasmine S. Mehmet





10:15


Family Law 101 / Overview in Low-Income Family Law Cases, Part II


• Substantive law: community property, child custody/visitation best interest standards, child and spousal support, and attorneys fees snapshot & client education


• Types of Family causes of actions and motions


Stephanie E. Bilinski, Yasmine S. Mehmet





11:15


Networking Break





11:30


Family Law 101 / Overview in Low-Income Family Law Cases, Part III


• Initial Pleadings: Petition and attachments, Summons, Service of Process


• Overview of paths of dissolution to judgment (flowchart)


Stephanie E. Bilinski, Yasmine S. Mehmet





12:30


Lunch





1:45


How to Get Immediate Orders - Motions Practice, Part I


• Types of Motions - DVPA, ex parte and non-ex parte Request for Order


• Forms


Stephanie E. Bilinski, Christopher J. Donnelly





2:45


How to Get Immediate Orders - Motions Practice, Part II


• How to prepare and handle a Family law hearing


Stephanie E. Bilinski, Christopher J. Donnelly





3:45


Networking Break





4:00


Basic Overview of Child Custody and Visitation


• How to obtain child custody and visitation orders - motion, Family Court Services and hearings.


Sharon M. Braz, Elizabeth Hom





5:00


Adjourn








Day Two: February 5, 2013





9:00


Program Overview and Introductions


Elizabeth Hom





9:15


Obtaining Child and Spousal Support in Low-Income Family Law Cases, Part I


• Overview of substantive law - child and spousal support


• Procedural steps to obtaining child and spousal support orders


Josanna Berkow, Cheryl A. Lebow, Genevieve Richardson





10:15


Obtaining Child and Spousal Support in Low-Income Family Law Cases, Part II


• Working with the Department of Child Support Services


• How to prepare and handle support hearing


Josanna Berkow, Cheryl A. Lebow, Genevieve Richardson





11:15


Networking Break





11:30


Property Issues in Low-Income Family Law Cases, Part I


• Identifying/characterizing community and separate property assets and debts


• Mandatory disclosures - Declaration of Disclosure, Schedule of Assets and Debts


Janet L. Frankel, Roxanne Hoegger, Genevieve Richardson





12:30


Lunch





1:45


Property Issues in Low-Income Family Law Cases, Part II


• Basic overview of discovery - formal and informal


• Methods and dividing and distributing community assets and debts


Janet L. Frankel, Roxanne Hoegger, Genevieve Richardson





2:45


How to Finish a Dissolution Case: Case Settlement and Trials


• How to prepare and handle a Mandatory Settlement Conference


• Basic overview of Family law trials


Janice Cho, Elizabeth Hom, Stephanie K. Sato





3:45


Networking Break





4:00


How to Finish a Dissolution Case: Judgments


• Judgments and related forms: true defaults; defaults with agreements; uncontested judgments


Janice Cho, Elizabeth Hom, Stephanie K. Sato





5:00


Adjourn


?


Faculty





Co-Chairs





Stephanie E. Bilinski


Family Law Supervising Attorney


Volunteer Legal Services Program, The Bar Association of San Francisco


San Francisco, California





Elizabeth Hom


Managing Attorney


Alameda County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services Corporation


Oakland, California





Genevieve Richardson


Director of Pro Bono Activities


Bay Area Legal Aid


Oakland, California








Commissioner Josanna Berkow


Certified Specialist in Family Law


Superior Court Commissioner (Retired)


Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa


Martinez, California





Sharon M. Braz


Certified Specialist in Family Law


Blum, Braz & Gibbs LLP


Oakland, California





Janice Cho


Law Office of Janice Cho


Oakland, California





Christopher J. Donnelly


Director, Family Law Department


Certified Specialist in Family Law


Leland, Parachini, Steinberg, Matzger & Melnick, LLP


San Francisco, California





Janet L. Frankel


Certified Specialist in Family Law


Law Offices of Janet L. Frankel


San Francisco, California





Roxanne Hoegger


Certified Specialist in Family Law


Auer & Hoegger LLP


San Francisco, California





Cheryl A. Lebow


DCCS Attorney


Contra Costa Department of Child Support Services


Martinez, California





Yasmine S. Mehmet


Certified Specialist in Family Law


Law Offices of Yasmine S. Mehmet


San Francisco, California





Stephanie K. Sato


Law Offices of Peter G. Loewenstein


Walnut Creek, California








To Register, Please Visit the PLI Website:





http://www.pli.edu/Content/Seminar/California_Family_Law_Basics_Pro_Bono_Representation/_/N-4kZ1z12p4n?Ns=sort_date%7c0&ID=159652